Apex court orders lab tests of packed milk in Sindh

CJP orders PCSIR to check quality and ingredients of the product


Our Correspondent January 14, 2018
PHOTO: REUTERS

KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) ordered on Saturday collection of samples of all the brands of packed milk being sold in the market and its quality testing by the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR).

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, passed this order while hearing a human rights application relating to deficiencies in the production, processing and packing of packed milk in the province.

At the outset of the hearing, Justice Nisar came down hard on the provincial authorities concerned over their failure to get such products tested to determine their quality.

He said the apex court had got the laboratories made functional in Punjab. Referring to the chemical analysis of packed milk being sold in Punjab, he said urea, hair removing powder and other items highly hazardous to human health were found being used in the processing of such milk.

Justice Nisar summoned the representative of the PCSIR to appear in 15 minutes.

He remarked that a commission may be set up to test the quality of packed milk. "This is not milk. It is not even an alternative to milk," the top judge said.

Packaged milk business struggles to retain customers

He said all the companies had been directed in Punjab to mention that the packed milk was not milk.

Justice Nisar said the court will not allow the people to be betrayed.
The apex court also dismissed a petition filed by the dairy farmers association pleading to the court to lift ban on the use of injections containing hormones, which induce milch animals to produce more milk.

Earlier, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan had disallowed use of injections on livestock across the country.

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