On the Special Directives of Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Joint Food Safety Inspections Conducted at Rawalpindi and Lahore Railway Stations—Action Taken Against Poor Hygiene and Substandard Items
In line with the special directives of the Federal Minister for Railways, Mr. Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, joint inspections were carried out by Railway Food Safety Teams at Rawalpindi and Lahore railway stations. The initiative aimed to ensure the provision of clean, hygienic, and high-quality food to passengers traveling across the country.
At Rawalpindi Railway Station, the inspection was conducted by the Potohar Food Safety Team, the Divisional Superintendent of Railways Rawalpindi, and his team. A total of 15 premises were inspected, which included:
• 4 Restaurants
• 3 Food Points / Tea Stalls
• 8 Tuck Shops
The overall hygiene at these locations was found to be satisfactory, and medical fitness certificates of the staff were available. However, several issues were observed during the inspection:
• Some workers were wearing jewelry while on duty
• Dishwashing was being conducted using the dip method
• Food items were being placed on newspaper sheets
Based on these observations, the following recommendations were issued:
• Jewelry should not be worn during food handling
• Only plain white paper should be used for food placement
• Utensils must be washed under running water
• Covered dustbins should be used
• Food items must be properly covered to prevent contamination
While the tuck shops were also found to be maintaining satisfactory hygiene standards and no expired items were reported, the following improvements were suggested:
• Ensure traceability of all food purchases
• Avoid placing food in direct sunlight
• Establish a clearly marked “Expiry Section” at each shop
At Lahore Railway Station, a joint inspection was carried out by the Punjab Food Authority and Railway officials. The inspection covered hygiene conditions, food quality, and expiration dates of edible items. During the visit:
• 3 stalls were heavily fined
• 1 stall was sealed
• Unauthorized items were confiscated
• Expired food items were discarded on-site
Divisional Medical Officer Dr. Saima Mumtaz and Divisional Commercial Officer Ghulam Fareed Asad accompanied the Punjab Food Authority team during the inspection. Authorities emphasized that the sale of substandard food items will not be tolerated, and repeated violations may result in contract termination of the concerned vendors.
Federal Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi expressed satisfaction with the inspection campaign and reiterated that such efforts will continue in phases across all railway stations nationwide. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to providing safe, hygienic food and ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness for passengers. He added that ensuring passenger well-being remains the top priority of Pakistan Railways.
