A canteen at Benazir Bhutto Hospital in Rawalpindi has been sealed and staff linked to it arrested after a late-night inspection found expired food in refrigerators and unsatisfactory hygiene.
The visit was carried out on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and supervised by Special Assistant Shoaib Mirza. Officials said the canteen’s condition fell short of basic food-safety standards expected in a major public hospital.
What the inspection found
The chief minister’s inspection team made surprise checks across several wards and looked at medical equipment in different departments. It said it was satisfied with how clean the wards were and with how the equipment was working.
Inspectors also spoke to patients and their attendants about whether medicines and other care services were available. The main problem identified was the hospital canteen, where expired items were found in refrigerators and overall sanitary conditions were described as poor.
Action ordered by Shoaib Mirza
Special Assistant Shoaib Mirza ordered the canteen sealed and imposed a heavy fine. Officials held responsible were arrested. Expired and potentially hazardous food was taken out of the premises so it could not be sold or served.
No fine amount was announced in the available details, and there was no further public breakdown of how many people were detained or what charges they face.
Why hospital food checks matter
Public hospitals in Pakistan serve large numbers of patients and families who often eat on site during long stays. Unsafe or outdated food raises infection and food-poisoning risks for people who are already unwell.
Authorities framed the seal and arrests as a firm response after the canteen failed the surprise check, while presenting the rest of the hospital’s wards and equipment as meeting the team’s expectations on that visit.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Rawalpindi ke Benazir Bhutto Hospital ki canteen band kar di gayi hai. Wahan fridge mein expire khana mila aur safai theek nahi thi. Zimmadar logon ko giraftar kiya gaya aur jurmana lagaya gaya. Mareezon aur un ke sath aane walon ke liye yeh is liye zaroori hai ke hospital mein khana safe ho.
