MARDAN : In connection with World Food Day, an awareness seminar was organized by the Department of Food and Nutrition Sciences at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan under the auspices of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Halal Food Authority. The event saw a large participation of students, faculty members, food safety officers, and people from various walks of life.
The purpose of the seminar was to raise awareness among the public—especially the youth—about the importance of safe, high-quality, and nutritious food, and to promote consciousness against the grave social issue of food adulteration.
Speaking on the occasion, Assistant Director of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Halal Food Authority, Ruqia Nawaz Khan, said that the quality of food is not only a matter of health but also a guarantee of the mental and physical stability of future generations. She emphasized that in today’s markets, where countless food products are available, it is crucial to choose only halal, high-quality, and safe food. The Food Authority, she said, is working day and night to ensure that the public gets food free from adulteration.
She further stated that the “adulteration mafia” represents those segments of society who, for the sake of a few rupees, play with the health of the people. However, under the Zero Tolerance Policy of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Halal Food Authority, strict actions are being taken against such elements daily.
Ruqia Nawaz urged the students to spread awareness among the people around them to promote a culture of safe food. “If we all take responsibility and make the right food choices a habit,” she said, “we can not only reduce diseases but also lay the foundation of a healthy and conscious nation.”
Food Safety Officers Talha and Jawad also addressed the seminar, informing the audience that the Authority’s teams conduct daily inspections of hotels, bakeries, milk vendors, and other food outlets to ensure the supply of quality food to the public.
Director of Sports, Dr. Farooq Hussain of Abdul Wali Khan University, praised the role of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Authority, calling it the true guardian of public health. He stated that healthy food is the foundation of a strong body and a balanced mind. “Compromising on food quality,” he said, “is an injustice to our own health and that of our future generations. We must consume only those food items that meet the standards of the Halal Food Authority.”
At the end of the seminar, students asked questions, which were answered in detail by the officials of the Food Authority.