Move Aimed at Ensuring Quality Food and Protecting Public Health
Muzaffarabad: Prime Minister of Azad Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, conducted a detailed inspection of the divisional mobile food testing laboratories established for the Food Department to improve food quality and safeguard public health.
Federal Minister for Food Javed Iqbal Budhanvi, Minister for School Education Dewan Ali Khan Chughtai, Minister for Communications and Works Sardar Zia-ul-Qamar, and Principal Secretary Zafar Mahmood accompanied the Prime Minister during the inspection.
On the occasion, Secretary Food Azad Kashmir Sardar Suhail Azam briefed the Prime Minister on the mobile food testing laboratories procured for the Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, and Poonch divisions. He informed that these modern mobile units are equipped with advanced instruments, including oil testometers, moisture analyzers, turbidity meters, and other modern equipment. These facilities will enable rapid and effective testing of food items to detect quality issues, adulteration, and components harmful to human health.
The briefing further stated that these mobile food testing laboratories will play a key role in ensuring the availability of safe and quality food for the public. Through these units, the inspection and testing of food prepared and sold at hotels, restaurants, bakeries, and other public places will become easier and more time-efficient, thereby strengthening action against food adulteration.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore termed the establishment of mobile food testing laboratories as an important milestone towards protecting public health. He said the government is utilizing all available resources to ensure the provision of safe and quality food to the people. He directed that these mobile laboratories should also be made operational in remote and underdeveloped areas so that the rural population can equally benefit from this facility.
The Prime Minister emphasized that food adulteration will not be tolerated under any circumstances and that there will be no compromise on quality. He appreciated the efforts of the Food Department for ensuring quality food and reaffirmed the government’s resolve to make public health protection measures more effective and well-coordinated.