The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has commenced its annual inspection drive of Three and Four Star Hotels in Punjab with an aim to ensure the provision of healthy and safe food, on Saturday.
A drive was launched under its annual inspection schedule 2019 for food industry. According to the schedule, three to five-star hotels will be checked three times in a year. PFA Director General Captain (R) Muhammad Usman said that food safety teams have visited 26 hotels and thoroughly checked their kitchen premises, production area, warehouse, dining area and other sections. During the drive, PFA shut down three hotels and imposed Rs262,000 cumulative fine on five owing to not meet the standards of Punjab Pure Food Regulations. He further said that the teams also warned 15 hotels, asking them to improve hygienic condition.
DG Muhammad Usman said that the competent authority sealed Park Lane Hotel on MM Alam Road, Ambassador Hotel at Davis Road and Tourist Inn Hotel located at Mall Road. He informed that PFA has registered a case against Tourist Inn Hotel in police station on account of repeated violations of provincial food law and interference in the functioning of the PFA. He further said that PFA shut down all hotels for using rotten vegetables and fruits, poor storage system, failing to meet hygiene working environment and not compliance of instructions. The enforcement teams also recovered expired meat and spices during raids, he added.
He said that PFA is checking hotels as per inspection schedule for 2019 and crackdown will continue indiscriminately against violators in Punjab. DG said that PFA will ensure the implementation of the law and bound food industry to follow the regulations also.