Balochistan Food Authority Concludes Crackdown on Substandard Meat: Action Taken Against 33 Shops

Quetta: The Balochistan Food Authority (BFA) has successfully concluded a special inspection campaign against the sale of substandard meat across the province, aimed at ensuring the supply of hygienic, fresh, and safe meat to the public.

On the final day of the campaign, **BFA inspection teams examined 50 meat shops** in various areas of **Satellite Town, A-One City, and Killi Almas Airport Road**. During the inspections, **33 beef, mutton, and poultry outlets** were penalized for violations including poor sanitation, unsafe meat display, and hanging meat outside their shops.

According to the report, **17 beef and mutton shop owners** and **7 poultry sellers** were fined for breaching food safety regulations, while **9 shops received improvement notices** with a grace period to address minor shortcomings. Additionally, **8 butchers were challaned** for selling meat without a valid **food business license**.

**BFA Director General Waqar Khurshid Alam** stated that the campaign’s objective was to align meat sale practices across the province with **international food safety standards** and **BFA Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)**. He said that inspections focused on cleanliness, storage conditions, and display methods, and that butchers were also educated about essential food safety protocols.

The DG emphasized that **regular inspections and strict actions will continue** to safeguard public health. He warned that the sale of **stale or unhygienic meat**, or the practice of **hanging meat outside shops**, would result in even stricter penalties in the future.

Alam added that the campaign was not only about identifying violations but also about **raising awareness and promoting corrective practices** among butchers to maintain hygienic and high-quality standards in meat shops across Balochistan.