Substandard products: SC seeks report on adulterated milk, water

Punjab Food Authority told to submit details within a month


Our Correspondent December 08, 2016
PHOTO: EXPRESS

LAHORE: The Supreme Court directed on Thursday the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) to submit comprehensive reports on the quality of milk and bottled water available in the markets.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar was hearing a petition on the sale of substandard milk and drinking water.

PFA Director-General Noorul Ameen Mengal along with representatives of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) appeared before the court.

The PCSIR official submitted a sealed report on the examination of samples taken from milk and bottled water companies. He said samples of nine out of 11 packed milk companies had been found to be substandard. Similarly, the samples of six mineral water companies had been declared substandard, he added.

Noorul Ameen told the court that action was being taken against manufacturers of unhygienic milk and water.

Justice Nisar observed the court would not allow anyone to play with the lives of the people. The judge directed the PFA to submit reports on water and milk samples within a month. The bench will resume the hearing on December 27.

Barrister Zafarullah Khan, who had filed the petition, said that not only loose milk but also packed milk being consumed by the people was adulterated with chemicals, including detergent powder, that were not fit for the human consumption.

He submitted that the use of contaminated and substandard milk had been causing serious diseases, including cancer and hepatitis-C.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2016.

COMMENTS (1)

Khurram Shahzad | 7 years ago | Reply I wonder, what might be the reason for not disclosing brand names of sub-standard milk.
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