PESHAWAR
Minister Food Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Atif Khan on Wednesday inaugurated Mobile Food Testing Laboratories for the seven divisional headquarters of the province.
In this connection a ceremony was held in the food department here on Thursday.
Addressing the inaugural event, Minister Food said the Mobile Food Testing Laboratories will help the government in ensuring the provision of safe and healthy food to the people in a more efficient manner.
He added the laboratories which will work on divisional level, will be extended to the district level in the next phase.
Secretary Food department Capt. Redt. Mushtaq Ahmad, Director General (DG) Food Safety Authority Shahrukh Ali Khan, and country director Nutrition International Dr Shabina Raza among others attended the event.
Atif Khan maintained that the province committed to work on the welfare of the people, adding that newly operated Mobile Food Testing Laboratories were equipped with high tech equipment, which covers a range of food testing.
“Laboratories are capable of on the spot testing of various food items including milk, flour, edible oil, ghee, water and other food items,” he added.
Mr Atif informed that a monitoring mechanism has been also placed for the laboratories, he added, results of the food samples collected during inspections will also be sent to the database, thus making both the vendor and the officials accountable.
Atif Khan said the mobile food testing laboratories will help the officials of the Food Safety Authority in checking food samples in the market, thus improving the overall quality of the food items.
He said with quality food in the market, the burden on the health sector will reduce.
He added that special directives have been issued to relevant officials for ensuring provision of safe and quality food in the premises of schools, colleges and other educational institutions.
Besides this, they are also instructed to inspect canteens of various public and private hospitals. The provisional minister also appreciated the Food Safety Authority on the timely completion and launching of Food Safety Laboratories.
He said fast track progress is being made on digitization of the food department, which will promote transparency in the system.
Secretary Food Capt Redt Mushtaq Ahmad said a special work plan will be formulated for the laboratories, in which food samples will be tested in various districts free of cost
He said the general public can also bring food samples to the food laboratories for testing. He stressed upon the media to play its role in creating awareness among the masses.
DG Food Safety Authority Shahrukh Ali Khan lauded the food minister for taking keen interest in establishment of food laboratories. He claimed that the Food Authority is further working on strengthening its technical capacity.
