A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology on Tuesday included a briefing by Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) on the quality of bottled water and packaged milk, coordination among regulators including PSQCA, Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) and CDA regarding supply of clean drinking water to the residents of Islamabad besides of safe drinking water project of PCRWR.
Noting that no work had been done to check the quality of milk in Pakistan, Senator Mian Attique Sheikh said that he had raised the issue of shampoo and other harmful things mixed in milk.
Senator Azam Khan Swati said that when he was minister the PSQCA was a corrupt organisation and sought details about the Rs980 million in fines recovered during his tenure.
He added that until harsh punishment was suggested against adulterers and who checked adulteration, quality items could not be ensured. At this the Federal Minister Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain said that owing to shortage of technical staff, 70 fresh appointments were being made.
He, however, admitted that unsolicited meat was being mixed into the poultry feed. He said he had directed to establish a task force to control adulteration in food products.
Senator Sheikh sought a process for reporting on cooking oil and stressed that quality check tests are carried out every six months.
Senator Swati said that to check adulteration in milk, a Statutory Regulatory Ordinance (SRO) was issued on September 30, 2016 and a technical committee was constituted in this regard. He added that 22 companies were supplying milk in the country but were misusing the PSQCA quality logo. In reply to a question, the PSQCA director general said that a list of mandatory elements in powdered milk was being set up and the rules would be ready by March this year.
The committee also deliberated over clean drinking water in Islamabad. Senator Swati said that water provided by filtration plants in Islamabad was not even fit for animals. PCRWR chairman told the committee that the body checked water quality every four years. At this chairman of the committee directed PCRWR to check water samples after every three months and submit a report in the standing committee as well as to CDA.
The director of water supply in CDA told the committee that the capital had 37 filtration plants of which 28 were functional. At this Senator Swati said that CDA must test samples from all filtration plants.
He urged CDA to get examine water samples from PCRWR laboratory after every six months.
Capital to get food authority
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Balighur Rehman informed the National Assembly on Tuesday that a food authority was being set up in the capital.
“The food authority, on the pattern of on in Punjab, is being set up in Islamabad,” he said while responding to a call-to-attention notice moved by Khalida Mansoor, Shakila Luqman, Surriya Asghar and Asiya Naz Tanoli regarding supply of toxic milk in the capital.
Moreover, Rehman said, a draft of ICT Food Safety & Standard Act had been finalised and would be tabled in the NA soon.
He admitted reports of toxicity in milk, adulteration and using unlawful methods to boost milk production from buffaloes and cows, which was a matter of great concern for all.
WITH ADDITONAL INPUT FROM APP
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2017.
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