By Farzana Chaudhry
Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: The Punjab Food Safety and Consumer Protection Department has launched three digital platforms—the Star Rating App, Consumer Protect App, and Automated Inspection System—as part of the Punjab government’s Digital Punjab initiative aimed at improving food safety, transparency, and consumer protection.

The digital initiatives were formally inaugurated by Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Food Safety Salma Butt at a ceremony attended by Secretary Food Safety and Consumer Protection Dr. Kiran Khursheed, Director General Punjab Food Authority Raja Mansoor, Director General PAMRA Imran Qureshi, senior government officials, and media representatives.

Addressing the ceremony, Salma Butt said safeguarding public health and protecting consumer rights remain among the provincial government’s highest priorities. She noted that the newly launched digital platforms would enhance food quality monitoring, strengthen consumer protection, and help ensure the availability of safe and adulteration-free food across Punjab.

She revealed that the Punjab Food Authority had conducted more than 46,000 inspections through the Automated Inspection System over the past two months. According to her, the digital inspection mechanism has significantly reduced opportunities for corruption and blackmail by introducing greater transparency and accountability.

Under the new system, food safety inspectors receive their daily inspection assignments through the mobile application. Officials have also been equipped with uniforms and body cameras to ensure transparent enforcement and documentation of inspection activities.

As part of the Star Rating Programme, hotels and restaurants across Punjab are being evaluated on the basis of food quality, hygiene standards, cleanliness, and the ingredients used in food preparation. During the initial phase, more than 500 restaurants, food chains, and their branches have been rated.

Consumers can access the ratings and food quality information of participating restaurants and food outlets by scanning QR codes using their smartphones.

The department also announced that strict legal action is being taken against businesses involved in the sale of expired, adulterated, and counterfeit food products.

Through the Consumer Protect App, citizens can lodge complaints regarding defective products and unsatisfactory services. The department said all registered complaints are required to be resolved within 21 days.

Officials further stated that Consumer Protection Councils have now been activated in all 41 districts of Punjab to strengthen enforcement of consumer rights and improve public service delivery.

Salma Butt commended Secretary Food Safety Dr. Kiran Khursheed, DG Punjab Food Authority Raja Mansoor, and DG PAMRA Imran Qureshi for successfully launching the digital initiatives and acknowledged their efforts in advancing food safety governance in the province.