By : Murtaza Tareen
The recent incident in Saryab, where over 30 children and two women were hospitalized after consuming contaminated bakery products, exposes a grave lapse in food safety oversight. The diagnosis of a dangerous bacterial infection in all affected patients points to systemic failures in hygiene and quality control at the implicated bakery. Reports of similar violations at ice cream and water plants in Quetta and Samli Kachlak further underscore the severity of the issue. The Balochistan Food Authority’s (BFA) crackdown, which led to the sealing of two illegal ice cream factories and an unregistered water plant, revealed alarming practices—use of contaminated water, substandard ingredients, and unsanitary conditions—that pose a direct threat to public health, particularly to children.
The BFA’s response, led by Director General Waqar Khurshid Alam and Director Operations Muhammad Riaz Nasir, is commendable but highlights a reactive rather than preventive approach. The absence of laboratory reports at the water plant and the use of harmful dyes and unhygienic storage practices in food production units indicate a broader regulatory failure. Such violations cannot be tolerated when public health is at stake.
This crisis demands immediate action. The BFA must enforce stricter regulations, conduct regular inspections, and ensure compliance with health standards across all food production units. Unregistered and illegal operations must face severe penalties to deter negligence. Additionally, public awareness campaigns are essential to educate consumers about identifying safe food products. The government should also invest in modern laboratory facilities to monitor food quality proactively.
The health of Balochistan’s citizens, especially its children, cannot be compromised. It is imperative that authorities act decisively to eliminate hazardous food production practices and restore public trust in the safety of what they consume.
