Chief Minister Gandapur Chairs Provincial Food Department Meeting

The first meeting of the provincial food department took place at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, chaired by Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur. The meeting covered various aspects including the department's mandate, administrative affairs, wheat procurement and supply, available wheat stock, and matters related to Food Safety and Halal Food Authority.

Key attendees included Provincial Minister for Food Zahir Shah Toru, Additional Chief Secretary P&D Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah, and other relevant officials. Chief Minister Gandapur directed the department to devise a detailed wheat procurement plan for the upcoming season, emphasizing the importance of ensuring wheat quality and transparency in the procurement process.

Furthermore, he instructed the establishment of Model Bazars and Food Streets at all divisional headquarters to facilitate citizens in purchasing essential items at government-fixed rates, aiming to combat artificial inflation. The chief minister stressed the need to maintain food quality standards, proposing substantial fines for violations and suggesting a classification system for hotels and restaurants based on business size.

To enhance food safety measures, he called for increased vigilance on the import of adulterated milk, expansion of mobile food testing laboratories, and mandatory testing of products from factories producing substandard food items. Additionally, Chief Minister Gandapur mandated the installation of CCTV cameras at departmental check posts, with necessary funds to be provided by the Finance department.

The proactive directives issued during the meeting underscore the government's commitment to ensuring food security, quality, and affordability for the citizens of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The emphasis on transparency, compliance, and stringent enforcement measures signals a concerted effort to safeguard public health and consumer interests in the province.