Safe food basic right of every citizen: Senator Rehman Malik

Islamabad: Former Interior Minister and Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik Thursday said that a healthy society is not only vital for better quality of life but it also boosts the quality of human capital and socioeconomic development of the country.

While addressing a seminar here in Islamabad where he was invited as chief guest, Senator Rehman Malik said that adulteration and unsafe food are the major causes in the growing of diseases in Pakistan.

He said that it is alarming that health issues are rapidly increasing in Pakistan because of unsafe and unhygienic food. He said that safe, secure and hygienic food is the basic right of every citizen and it is the foremost responsibility of the state to ensure the availability of safe and hygienic food to its citizens.

Senator Rehman Malik said that unfortunately in our country unsafe and unhygienic food is being sold in our markets without any fear. He said that across the country including the capital there is no formal authority to monitor food quality and there exist no mechanism. He said that our laws regarding food security are too weak to control food adulteration so we are unable to get hygienic food. He said that not only that dead meat and adulterated milk is being sold but substandard food is being served in restaurants and also in the canteens of schools and other educational institutions. He said that he was shocked to see that vendors sell substandard food items and spurious drinks outside schools, colleges and universities. He said that this is a very serious issue and it needs government serious attentions as unhygienic food is badly affecting health of our school going children.

Senator Rehman Malik said that on February 7, 2018, he as Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior had taken notice of selling of adulterated milk and the meat of dead animals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi but during the briefing, he was told that this is a common practice across the country. He added that he had recommended legislation and establishment of ICT Food Authority to ensure the safe food. He said that there should be a National Food Security Authority in the country to ensure safe food to everyone adding that citizens should also play their role in ensuring the safe food.

He said that Senate Standing Committee on Interior had recommended the establishment of Slaughter House in Islamabad and every district of the country duly monitor by respective District Administration. He explained The Pure Food Authority Bill, 2019 which was referred to his committee on September 2, 2019 and after thorough deliberation, on December 9, 2019 it was approved.

He said that the bill seeks establishment of a food authority in the capital and appointment of officials. He said that the bill also provided a comprehensive mechanism for regulating and managing food items as well as punishments for those involved in the business of adulterated and unhygienic food.

He said “I call upon the government to implement and act upon the Food Act of 1960 till Food Authority are not established at capital and provincial level”.

At the end of seminar, he distributed certificates among the participants and applauded them for their services for humanity and Pakistan.