PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority (KPFS&HFA) has conducted extensive operations in Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, and Haripur, leading to the seizure and destruction of substandard and hazardous food items. These operations were supervised by Director General Wasif Saeed.
According to a spokesperson for the food authority, the Peshawar Food Safety Team raided a distribution point on Kohat Road and confiscated nearly 2,000 litres of counterfeit and substandard beverages. The facility was sealed, and legal proceedings were initiated. In Nowshera, the team intercepted a vehicle carrying 400 kilograms of stale and unfit chicken parts, which were destroyed on-site. Additionally, unhygienic water stored in a hotel’s overhead tank was drained, and on Swabi Road in Jhangira, 100 kilograms of substandard sweets were seized and disposed of.
Meanwhile, the Mardan Food Safety Team conducted a raid in Par Hoti, where they confiscated 40 kilograms of bran, 100 kilograms of adulterated spices mixed with bran, and 4 kilograms of unsafe artificial colouring. The facility, which was producing fake spices under the labels of popular brands, was sealed due to unhygienic conditions and the absence of medical fitness certificates for its workers. The culprits were apprehended on-site.
In Haripur, the Food Safety Team raided a beverage factory located in the Hattar Industrial Estate during late hours. This operation resulted in the recovery of 1,080 kilograms of expired pulp intended for juice production. The expired material was destroyed on-site, production was suspended, and legal action was initiated against those responsible.
The authority announced that heavy fines had been imposed for violations of hygiene standards, and cases under the Food Safety Act had been filed against the offenders.
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Commending the successful operations, KP Minister for Food Zahir Shah Toru stated that those involved in the preparation and sale of adulterated food would not be spared. “There will be no compromise on public health, and safe food for citizens will be ensured at all costs,” he added.
