SWAT: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority sealed two factories and different shops on Tuesday for violating laws and selling substandard food items.

       According to a statement, the team of the authority launched a wide scale crackdown on different food stalls, ice cream shops and mineral water factories. Led by deputy director Mohammad Asif, the team inspected food factories and outlets in Babuzai tehsil and other parts.

       During the operation, warnings were issued to different shops and factories while two factories were sealed for violating food safety laws.

       Mr Asif said that instructions were already issued under Food Safety Act to all the factories of food items in the district. He said that the factories, which did not follow the safety laws and produced substandard food items, would be sealed.

       He said that people should cooperate with the district government and relevant authorities during the inspections. He added that they should immediately approach the district office of Food Authority in case of any complaint.

       Meanwhile, Babuzai Assistant Commissioner Adnan Abrar visited various bazaars in Mingora. During the visit, four shopkeepers were fined for poor hygiene while more than 10 were warned.

       “Cleanliness is half of the faith and we should at least clean our surroundings. Legal actions will be taken against those, who do not follow hygienic principles and sell adulterated or substandard food items,” he said.

       LOADSHEDDING: Swat Traders Federation president Abdul Rahim said that unannounced and unscheduled power loadshedding made the life of people miserable during the holy month of Ramazan.

       Talking to journalists, he said that power outages caused severe water shortage in the area. He said that Pesco should immediately end unannounced power outages.

       Mr Rahim said that power loadshedding in the holy month of Ramzan caused problems to people. He said that businesses run by electricity had also come to a complete standstill. He said that the business of tailors was badly affected owing to power outage.

       He said that traders would be forced to stage protest against the unscheduled power loadshedding.

       Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2022