STAFF REPORT
PESHAWAR:In line with the directives of Minister for Food Zahir Shah Toru, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority (KPFS&HFA) has intensified its province-wide crackdown against counterfeit and substandard food items especially cold drinks and energy drinks ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. The latest enforcement actions have resulted in the seizure of more than 8,000 litres of spurious carbonated drinks from multiple districs, while over 2,000 litres of unwholesome milk were also intercepted and disposed of on the spot.
According to the Authority’s spokesperson, food safety teams in Peshawar confiscated over 4,000 litres of counterfeit branded soft drinks from a warehouse near Firdous Bazaar and from a vehicle on GT Road after laboratory analysis confirmed the products to be substandard.
In Swabi, the local food safety team raided a shop in Chota Lahore, recovering 600 litres of fake beverages, which were subsequently taken into official custody.
Meanwhile, in Mardan, two separate operations were carried out at Malakand Road near Jhandai bazaar and Charsadda Chowk, where vehicles transporting spurious soft drinks were intercepted. These operations led to the recovery of 3,500 litres of counterfeit carbonated beverages and 65 kilogrammes of non-food-grade China salt.
In a parallel operation in Dera Ismail Khan, food safety teams established checkpoints on main thoroughfares and seized more than 2,000 litres of adulterated and hazardous milk, which was immediately discarded on-site to prevent public consumption.
The spokesperson further stated that heavy fines have been imposed on violators under the KP Food Safety Act, and further legal proceedings have been initiated.
Director General KPFS&HFA Wasif Saeed lauded the efforts of field teams, reiterating that strict action would continue under the Authority’s zero-tolerance policy against those endangering public health. “Our teams are conducting daily inspections across the province to curb the circulation of substandard, hazardous, and counterfeit food products,” he added.
