PFA inspects 952 food outlets, fines 67 food points across division

MULTAN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Jun, 2026) The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) intensified its drive against unhygienic food businesses across Multan division, inspected 952 food outlets and imposed heavy fines on 67 food outlets.

Acting on the directives of Director General Punjab Food Authority Syed Musa Raza, food safety teams carried out inspections at 952 food points across the division, including 452 in Multan, 198 in Khanewal, 152 in Vehari and 150 in Lodhran. During the operation, 435 food business operators were issued improvement notices, while 67 outlets were fined for breaching food safety regulations. More than 20 kilograms of prohibited ingredients were also confiscated and destroyed.

In Multan, enforcement teams imposed fines exceeding Rs400,000 on 12 food businesses, including renowned restaurants, pizza outlets, a vermicelli factory, sweets and bakery shops, and a pickle production unit. Violations included insect infestations in production areas, poor sanitation arrangements, use of substandard ingredients, stale vegetables in food preparation, unhygienic freezers and the storage of edible oil in chemical drums.

The inspections covered several areas, including Gol Bagh, MDA chowk, Royal orchard, Gulshan Market, Chowk Qasba Maral, Chah Jammu Wala Qadirabad and Bhatta Basti Nawabpur.

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In Khanewal district, a bakery in Jinnah colony, Jahanian, was sealed until improvement after team found insects on sweets and noted the use of unsafe water. An ice factory on Multan Road, Mian Channu, was fined Rs20,000 after insects were discovered in ice blocks. Likewise, a makhana processing unit in Jattala Town was penalised Rs10,000 for smoking inside the production area and failing to install a proper water filtration system.

A pizza outlet at Football Chowk was fined Rs25,000 for maintaining unhygienic freezer conditions and failing to keep records of cooking oil replacement, while a well-known hotel at Sabir Chowk, Mian Channu, received a Rs35,000 fine for using uncovered spices during food preparation.

Meanwhile, in Vehari, two ice factories located in Gaggoo Mandi and Dilan Bangla, Burewala, were heavily fined after food inspectors found insects in ice blocks and observed severely inadequate hygiene standards.

Speaking on the occasion, DG PFA Syed Musa Raza said that strict monitoring was being carried out at every stage of food production and distribution to ensure the availability of safe and quality food for consumers.