Muzaffarabad-(Special Correspondent)-Declaring public health his government’s foremost priority, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore on Tuesday ordered strict and effective action against food adulteration across the state, particularly in dairy products and items consumed by children.
He issued these directives while inspecting divisional mobile food testing laboratories set up by the AJK Food Department to improve food quality and safeguard public health. AJK Minister for Food Javed Iqbal Budhanvi, Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Deevan Ali Khan Chughtai, Minister for C&W Sardar Ziaul Qamar were also present on the occasion.
The prime minister said the establishment of mobile food testing laboratories was an important step towards ensuring the supply of safe and quality food to the public. He directed that these laboratories should also be made operational in remote and underdeveloped areas so that rural populations could benefit from the facility.
He noted that while the Food Authority’s progress appeared satisfactory in numerical terms, its enforcement actions must be visibly evident across the length and breadth of the state and should result in a tangible improvement in public health.
Warning against adulteration, the prime minister said malpractice in food items, especially dairy products such as pouch milk, loose milk and yoghurt, would not be tolerated.
He also ordered strict checking of items commonly consumed by children, including beverages, snacks, chips and papad etc, in accordance with the law.
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In view of the approaching holy month of Ramazan, he directed that special inspection drives be carried out and stern action taken against those dealing in substandard food.
Earlier, Secretary Food Sardar Sohail Azam briefed the prime minister on the mobile food testing laboratories procured for the Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions.
He said the mobile units were equipped with modern testing equipment, including Eco Milk Analysers, oil testometers, moisture analysers and turbidimeters, enabling quick and effective testing of food items for quality, adulteration and health-hazardous components.
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