KP Assembly panel reviews food security, food safety measures

Peshawar - The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Standing Committee on the Food Department held a meeting at the Provincial Assembly Secretariat here under the chairmanship of Committee Chairman and Member Provincial Assembly Laiq Muhammad Khan. Committee members and MPAs Gurpal Singh, Ms Afshan Hussain and Ms Shazia Jadoon attended the meeting. The Secretary Food Department, Additional Secretary, Director Food, Director of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety & Halal Food Authority, officials of the Law Department and relevant officers of the Provincial Assembly Secretariat were also present. Quaid's principles: A roadmap to overcoming Pakistan's challenges The committee conducted a detailed review of the overall performance of the Food Department, food security, the quality of food items, the supply system and matters relating to the provision of safe and quality food to the public at reasonable prices. The Secretary Food Department briefed the committee on the responsibilities of the department, its ongoing initiatives and performance in various areas. He said ensuring food security in the province and providing safe and quality food to the public were among the core responsibilities of the Food Department. Four selected for Pride of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Awards He said various measures were being undertaken to achieve these objectives through the Directorate of Food and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety & Halal Food Authority. The Additional Secretary Food informed the committee that the department was responsible for several important matters, including the procurement, storage, rationing and distribution of wheat and sugar, monitoring and control of food prices, implementation of the Sugarcane Development Cess Rules, 1964, and ensuring the supply of essential commodities to urban areas. KP expands tourism infrastructure, adventure opportunities He said measures were also being taken to improve the effectiveness of the supply system through monitoring data relating to wheat warehouses, tandoors, flour mills, sugar and sugar mills. These measures included price determination and control mechanisms and the Digital Supply Chain Management System. The Director Food informed the committee that effective monitoring and administrative measures were being undertaken to ensure the adequate availability, quality and fair and reasonable prices of food items across the province. Commissioner orders action against absentee staff The meeting also received a detailed briefing from the Director of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety & Halal Food Authority on the establishment, scope and performance of the authority. He said the Food Safety & Halal Food Authority had been established in 2018 and had offices in various districts of the province. Testing facilities, including mobile laboratories, were available under the authority to examine the quality of food items. He said samples of various food products were collected and tested to assess their quality, while legal action and fines were imposed against individuals and establishments involved in the production and sale of substandard or hazardous food items. Substandard products were also destroyed, while the registration of dairy farms and other businesses involved in food production and handling was being ensured. Speaking on the occasion, committee member Ms Afshan Hussain said the responsibilities of the Food Safety & Halal Food Authority were of utmost importance as they were directly linked to public health and the provision of safe and quality food to the people. Tags: