The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority (KPFSHA) conducted a week-long series of inspections and enforcement operations across Dera Ismail Khan to ensure food safety standards and protect consumers from substandard or unhygienic products.
During an inspection of a food processing unit, the food safety team discovered extremely unhygienic conditions where food items were prepared and stored. The team found live rats in tomato paste, which raised serious concerns about public health. The KPFSHA immediately confiscated and destroyed the entire stock of tomato paste at the site, sealed the premises, and imposed a fine for poor sanitation and serious violations of food safety regulations.
On Multan Road, specifically in the Fateh Mor area, the food safety team used a mobile laboratory to conduct on-the-spot testing of milk and edible oil. The testing revealed water adulteration in the milk. The authority also inspected milk shops along Multan Road, taking action against those involved in water adulteration and maintaining unsatisfactory sanitary conditions.
In the Abaya Bridge and Qureshi Mor areas, the team collected and tested milk samples, which also identified water adulteration and poor sanitary conditions. Shopkeepers in these areas were fined and directed to sell pure milk and maintain hygiene.
The KPFSHA also conducted inspections in several other locations:
In Imamia Colony, teams inspected bakeries, milk shops, and grocery stores, directing shopkeepers to improve sanitary conditions.
In Paharpur, food outlets, bakeries, milk vendors, and grocery stores were examined, with teams issuing instructions to maintain cleanliness and safe food handling.
On Chashma Road, various bakeries, milk shops, and grocery stores were inspected, and improvement notices were issued to businesses requiring corrective measures.
In Saddar Bazaar and Eidgah areas, teams recovered expired food products from a shop and imposed a fine.
In Syed Nagar, milk outlets were inspected where water adulteration and poor cleanliness were detected, leading to fines.
In the Sheikh Yousaf Chowk area, teams inspected bakeries, milk shops, and grocery stores, issuing notices for hygiene and food handling improvements.
The authority also inspected restaurants and food points across the district, checking kitchen cleanliness, preparation methods, and storage. Fines were imposed for violations, and the team confiscated and destroyed expired edible oil and beverages.
An official of the KP Food Safety and Halal Food Authority said that regular inspections and enforcement measures are being carried out across the district to protect consumers from adulterated, expired, and unhygienic food products. The official emphasised that the authority would continue monitoring food businesses, using mobile laboratory facilities for on-the-spot testing and taking action against those violating food safety laws.
The official urged food business operators to maintain cleanliness, ensure proper storage and handling of food items, and refrain from adulteration, warning that violations would invite strict legal action. He also appealed to citizens to remain vigilant, purchase food products from hygienic outlets, and report suspected adulteration or violations to the relevant food safety authorities.
