Karachi, The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Department, in collaboration with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety Authority, conducted an innovative online open house today to directly address public complaints regarding food quality and pricing.

According to Directorate General Information and PRs – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the event, streamed live from the Peshawar headquarters, featured the participation of the Minister for Food, Agriculture, Livestock and Forests, Asif Rafiq, Secretary Food Department Zarif Al Maani, and other high-ranking officials. The online format provided a platform for citizens to voice their concerns directly to the Minister and other authorities. More than two hundred complaints were received via phone, WhatsApp, a toll-free number, and Facebook comments, with grievances mainly about the pricing of food items and the sale of unhealthy and substandard food.

Minister Asif Rafiq responded to these complaints by directing relevant officers to conduct immediate inspections of food-related businesses and to take strict action against those involved in the sale of unhealthy and substandard food items. He emphasized that selling harmful substances disguised as food would not be tolerated.

Secretary Food Zarif Al Maani instructed teams to initiate a special campaign against adulteration in milk, fish, and kebabs starting next week. He stressed the importance of targeting the entire supply chain, from production to sale points, to eliminate substandard food from the market. The Secretary also announced the continuation of the open court system to clear up any confusion and enhance the department’s service delivery.

This initiative represents a significant step by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in engaging directly with citizens to improve food safety and quality standards in the region.