In my belief, it is better to quit the job rather than show leniency on enforcement of rules and regulations,” said Ayesha Mumtaz, Director Punjab Food Authority(PFA) in an interview.
We all love food and we want ourselves to be called as a foodie or a food lover but what if I tell you that the ambrosial food we’re eating is prepared in an environment you worse than a lavatory? Moreover we all are Muslims and even if we go abroad we want to have Halaal food and we seek Halaal restaurants even if it takes hours, but what if I tell you that the steak or a grilled meat you’re eating here in the Islamic republic of Pakistan is from a dead animal?
Identical questions arise when one hears the news about Ayesha Mumtaz sealing restaurants and imposing a fine of as much as 75k on the five star restaurants like PC and Avari in lahore or when you hear about the sealing of two restaurants in Peshawar, one of which is owned by an adviser to the chief minister to the sealing of four more restaurants in Faisalabad. News like this gives me goosebumps. If a five star restaurant is providing expired and contaminated food prepared in totally unhygienic conditions, what would a desi street restaurant be providing to customers?
This demands for a strict check and balance in Pakistan with highly trained food scientists along with security personnel. Raids must be made regardless of the powerful owners of the restaurants so that the sincere foodies are fed healthy hygienic food.
SYED MUHAMMED OMER NADEEM,
Karachi, August 1.