PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Tuesday launched five more state-of-the-art mobile food testing laboratories to provide safe and healthy food items to the people of the province.

The launching ceremony was held at the Chief Minister’s House, where Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur was the chief guest.

Members of the cabinet, provincial assembly, chief secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, additional chief secretary planning and development Ikramullah Khan, senior officials of the food department and representatives of international partner organisations also attended the event, a statement issued here said.

Officials informed the meeting that the food testing laboratories would provide free testing services for food items in the densely-populated districts of the province.

CM says these labs will be extended to all districts by June next

They added that seven testing laboratories under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority were already offering free services at the divisional headquarters level.

The meeting was informed that ensuring the availability of healthy, clean and adulteration-free food items was one of the key components of the chief minister’s 99-point Awami Agenda.

The officials informed the participants that the newly-launched labs established at a cost of Rs90 million were equipped with modern tools, including milk analysers, arsenic kits for water, refractometers, moisture analysers, digital refractometers, pH and TDS meters. Through these laboratories, citizens will have access to quality testing of milk, water, spices, tea, salt, honey, ice cream, juices and 24 other food items at their doorsteps. These laboratories have the capability to conduct immediate tests of food items and provide instant results through thermal printers. Reports and other relevant data from these inspections would be instantly shared with high-ups through an online dashboard, the officials said.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Gandapur said the objective of increasing the number of mobile testing laboratories was to eradicate food adulteration and ensure the provision of quality food items to the public.

He also announced that by June next year, mobile testing laboratories would be expanded to all districts of the province and later to the tehsil level. He highlighted that food adulteration was a serious issue and strict measures would be taken for its effective prevention. He lamented that despite being Muslims, people engaged in food adulteration, whereas Islamic teachings strictly prohibited such practices. “As Muslims, we must reform ourselves and adhere strictly to Islamic injunctions.”

Mr Gandapur praised the performance of the food authority and emphasised enhancing the institution’s capacity to further improve the food safety regime. He noted that the addition of five more laboratories would help make the food safety system more effective and efficient. “These laboratories will not only ensure the availability of clean and safe food but also prevent undue harassment of businesses.”

Mr Gandapur directed that the static food testing laboratory in Peshawar be made operational within one month, and assured that the provincial government would provide all necessary resources for this purpose. “Once this laboratory becomes operational, all food items in the province will be registered, and no food item will be sold without registration and an NOC from the food testing lab.”

The chief minister also announced the regularisation of contractual employees of the food authority.

Provincial minister for food Zahir Shah Toru also spoke.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2024