Food authority seizes 70,000 litres fake beverages, busts network

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Mar, 2026) The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority has uncovered a major network involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit and substandard beverages during coordinated operations across the province, seizing more than 70,000 litres of fake drinks and taking legal action against those involved.

According to a spokesperson, the operation began after a tip-off when a food safety team in Kohat set up a late-night checkpoint on the Indus Highway and intercepted a vehicle heading towards North Waziristan.

During the search, officials recovered around 11,700 litres of counterfeit and low-quality beverages and arrested the driver.

Further investigation led joint food safety teams from Kohat, Peshawar and Nowshera to a warehouse in Banda Nabi area of Pabbi tehsil, where a raid resulted in the seizure of approximately 60,000 litres of branded counterfeit beverages.

Authorities sealed the warehouse on the spot and initiated legal proceedings against the owners under the food safety laws.

In a separate action in Peshawar, the food authority, in coordination with the district administration, raided a chicken shop early in the morning and recovered nearly 250 kilograms of spoiled and rotten chicken parts, which were destroyed on site.

An FIR was registered against those involved and the accused were arrested and sent to jail.

Meanwhile in Mardan, a food safety team raided a pickle production unit and recovered around 1,000 kilograms of mold-infested and rotten pickles.

The contaminated products were discarded, while the unit owner was fined heavily and booked under relevant laws.

Director General of the authority, Kashif Iqbal Jilani, praised the teams for the successful operations and said strict action would continue against those involved in the production and sale of fake and substandard food items, adding that no compromise would be made on public health.