Laws Governing Food in Islamabad, Pakistan
The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has issued a notification dated September 7, 2015, according to which there are basically five laws which ensure that eateries maintain certain standards and the food they sell is of good quality:
- Pure Food Ordinance 1960
- Punjab Animal Slaughter Act 1963
- Pakistan Penal Code 1860 (Sections 269, 278 and 290)
- Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Ordinance
- Food Adulteration and Spurious Drugs Act
- ‘Dress code for restaurant staff’ and the ‘handling of food items’ has not been clearly defined.
- Pure Food Act for the federal capital, which was updated in 2011 and would replace the Pure Food Ordinance, still awaits approval.
- Food inspectors from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) are responsible for ensuring that eateries in the capital maintain quality standards. They are also part of the teams that raid restaurants and they grant annual renewals to them as well.
- It is the responsibility of CDA’s Directorate of Municipal Services for giving restaurants the license to operate.
- Large hotels (like Marriott) are covered by the relevant laws on tourism, but this subject has been devolved to the provinces following the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan 1973.
