Consumers Food Safety and Quality Conference 2012

Today I attended a very meaningful and important event for the consumer's voice of Pakistan and their rights to have safe food with assured quality.

 Consumers food safety and quality conference was organized by Consumer Association of Pakistan (CAP). Mr. Kaukab Iqbal, Chairman and member of managing committee CAP and his skilled organizing committee raised the one of the most important issues of Pakistan in the conference held at Sheraton Hotel Karachi. Mr. Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, the honorable speaker of Sindh assembly was the chief guest of the event. To bring the on ground facts of food safety and quality issues and suggestions to make the worst situation better by industries, consumer association, academia and other research institutes in the kind knowledge of Government representative was one of the key purpose of this event.

The event begun with the recitation of  Holy Quran by Mulana Mehmood Shah Yousufzai, Nation Anthem by all participants and Naat-e- Rasool by Ms. Tabinda Lari. Mr. Kaukab Iqbal warmly welcomed the guests. Conference was presided by Mr. S.M. Muneer, the leader of business community, Chairman Din group.

All the speakers represented their views over current food quality control and safety status of food in Pakistan. Dr.Ali Abbas Qazilbash, Office in-charge EU/UNIDO TRTA II programme enlighted the importance of human resource for the implementation and compliance of better food safe system in Pakistan. Senator Abdual Haseeb Khan raised the very basic issue of society which is honesty and humanity. People who adulterate the food with dangerous stuff or degrade the food quality by any mean for rapid profit are playing with lives. Speakers highlighted the issue how unqualified and less number of food inspectors can control fast growing quality issues in Pakistan. They mentioned the intense requirement of Food Ministry and qualified personal for food sector in Government of Pakistan. Technical Director from Tetra Pack Pakistan Ltd. highlighted the role of tetra packaging for safe food. Prof. Dr. Jehan Ara, Chairperson of Dept. of Food Science and Technology, University of Karachi presented the academia's point of view for the production of farm to fork safe food for the consumers. Dr. Shahina Naz Asst. Prof. at Dept. of Food Science and Technology, University of Karachi delivered a summarized presentation about possible contaminants, risks and other food safety concerns. Mrs Seema Ismat, the principal scientific officer at PCSIR presented her work on food color adulteration in beverages. Mr. Mubark Ahemd, the Director general, Southern Zone, (PARC) raised the awareness of pesticide poisoning in Pakistan and issues of contaminants like aflatoxin in post harvest produces. He discussed the effects of distrustful quality food products on Pakistan's exports too. Dr. Saghir Ahemd Sheik, Asst. Prof. at Institute of Food Science and Technology Tandojam delivered the presentation about working and research overview of the institute. Shan foods representative told the audience by keep quality as their first priority with their state of the art technology, they are representing Pakistan in 56 countries worldwide.

The Chief guest Mr. Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said Pakistan do have rules and all of us have to follow them with honesty; It is mentioned in law that adulteration is a crime. He said i'll work for this Nobel cause of food safety and quality even if i am not a speaker of assembly. Mr. Nisar Ahmed Khuhro stated the realities of villages of Sindh where the clean drinking water facilities are still unavailable. According to him we all are consumers and we should work with government for the betterment of Pakistan instead of blaming.

The conference ended with the of token of appreciation and distribution of shields to the speakers.