PFA registers 110 cases, seals 182 food outlets during Ramadan

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Mar, 2026) The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) registered 110 cases and sealed 182 food outlets during a province-wide crackdown on unhygienic Sehri and Iftar points to ensure the provision of safe food during the holy month of Ramadan.

According to PFA Director General Muhammad Asim Javaid, the action was taken during inspections of 14,143 Sehri points and 37,338 Iftar points across Punjab since the start of Ramadan.

He said that 5,860 food businesses were fined more than Rs 80.6 million, while 27,582 outlets were issued detailed improvement notices for failing to meet food safety standards. In addition, 2,225 food samples were collected for laboratory testing.

The DG said that over 198,000 kilograms/litres of substandard and adulterated food items were confiscated and destroyed during the inspections. These included food prepared with poor-quality ingredients, expired products, sauces, ketchup, meat, cold drinks and cooking oil. Several food outlets were sealed for using expired ingredients in food preparation, while inspections also revealed unhygienic kitchen conditions, including the presence of insects, flies and spider webs.

He said food prepared with prohibited or stale ingredients could cause serious health issues and such items were immediately seized and discarded during the operations.

The DG added that training of food handlers had been conducted before Ramadan and is still ongoing, while additional directors, directors and district deputy directors are actively supervising field operations. He said that food outlets are being inspected in three shifts during Ramadan, adding that no compromise would be made on food quality, regardless of the size of the food point.

The DG urged citizens to report any food-related complaints on the PFA helpline 1223, while advising food business operators to strictly comply with Punjab Food Authority regulations. He added that enforcement actions will continue across the province to ensure the availability of safe and quality food during Ramadan.