Punjab Food Authority

The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) (Urdu: مقتدرہ خوراک پنجاب) is an agency of the provincial Government of Punjab in Pakistan. It regulates food safety and hygiene in the Province. It was formed under the Punjab Food Authority Act 2011.[1][2] The PFA is the first agency of its kind in Pakistan.[3] Enforcement of food hygiene and quality standards as described in the Punjab Food Authority Act 2011 and the Pure Food Rules 2011.[4]

Punjab Food Authority (PFA)
Agency overview
Formed2011 (2011)
JurisdictionPunjab, Pakistan
Agency executives
  • Umer Tanveer Butt, Chairman Punjab Food Authority
  • Rafaqat Ali, Director General
WebsitePunjab Food Authority

As of October, 2015, the Director of the PFA is Ayesha Mumtaz. In October 2016, Ayesha Mumtaz herself requested to be sent on leave from her post due to some allegations against her driver which are not yet proven. She reportedly said she requested the leave to attend to her parents who needed her for their health treatment. The current PFA director general is Rafqat Ali Naswana.[3][5]

Responsibilities and Functions of PFA

The Punjab Food Authority Act, 2011[6] entrusts the following functions and responsibilities to the Punjab Food Authority:

  1. Punjab Food Authority regulates and monitors the food business in order to ensure compliance by formers, manufacturers, distributors, importers and other stake holders in orders to provide safe food.
  2. Formulate standards, procedures, processes and guidelines in relation to any aspect of food including food business, food labeling, food additive, and specify appropriate enforcement systems.
  3. Enforcement of food safety and quality standards.
  4. Specify procedures and guidelines for setting up and up-gradation of food laboratories.
  5. Specify licensing, prohibition orders, recall procedures, improvement notices and prosecution in the court of law.
  6. Provides scientific advice and technical support to the Government in matters relating to food safety.
  7. Establishment of food laboratories.
  8. Organize training programmes in food safety and standards.
  9. Promote general awareness regarding food safety and standards.
  10. Certify food products/items for export.
  11. Forward and backward traceability of food items.
  12. Surveillance including collection, integration, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of data related to food and nutrient intakes.

References
  1. "Punjab Food Authority". Punjab Food Authority. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  2. "Punjab Food Authority Act 2011" (PDF). Punjab Food Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  3. "A Pakistani province starts taking food safety seriously". The Economist. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  4. "The Punjab Pure Food Rules, 2011 - The Punjab Code" (PDF).
  5. Ayesha Mumtaz sent on forced leave, The News International (newspaper), Published 23 October 2016, Retrieved 7 September 2017
  6. "Punjab Law Portal".
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