Qaseem Shah, Ali Hamza:Â
​QUETTA (July 2, 2026) – In a major move to protect public health, the Balochistan Food Authority (BFA) has launched a massive crackdown against the cultivation of vegetables using toxic sewage water.
​During a recent high-impact operation on Quetta’s Sabzal Road, BFA teams destroyed hazardous crops spread across 22 acres of land. The destroyed produce included contaminated cauliflower, mint, coriander, purslane (kulfa), onions, and beets, all of which were being irrigated with wastewater from drains.
​Zero Tolerance for Health Risks
​Director General of BFA, Habibullah Khan, issued a stern warning to violators, emphasizing that growing food crops with sewage water will not be tolerated under any circumstances, especially given strict directives from both the High Court and the provincial government.
​The operation was executed under the direct supervision of BFA Director Operations, Fakhruddin Marri.
​”These phase-wise, unbiased operations against unhealthy vegetable cultivation will expand across other regions as well,” stated DG Habibullah Khan. “Sewage water can only legally be used for non-edible crops. Anyone violating these laws will not only have their crops destroyed but will also face strict legal action and criminal charges.”
​A Call for Public and Media Cooperation
​The BFA chief highlighted that edible crops raised on toxic drain water pose severe, long-term risks to human health. To make the fight against adulterated and unhygienic food more robust, the authority is upgrading its public complaint management system to ensure rapid responses.
​DG Khan urged both the citizens of Balochistan and the media to actively report illegal farming practices and unhygienic food points, promising that immediate action would be taken on every tip-off.
​According to officials, these aggressive safety measures are being actively sustained under the special directives of Provincial Minister and BFA Chairman, Haji Noor Muhammad Dummar, to completely block the supply and sale of contaminated food items in the province
