The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed on Thursday the Dairy Farmers Association and other stakeholders to fix the price of milk in a petition regarding the increase in dairy prices in Karachi.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed, was hearing the plea, where the petitioner's counsel contended that the wholesalers were selling milk to the retailers at Rs114, while the retailers were selling it to the consumers at Rs120 per litre.
The court inquired about the steps being taken to control the milk prices and remarked if the milk prices were not contained, the prices of other commodities would shoot up.
"Sellers would increase the prices of goods as per their desire," remarked Justice Mazhar. "We want to see what steps the commissioner's office is taking to control the milk prices."
The assistant commissioner informed the court that the milk prices were fixed at Rs94 per litre in the metropolis.
Justice Mazhar inquired about the actions being taken against those selling milk at inflated prices, to which the assistant commissioner replied that officials were conducting raids and imposing fines on profiteers on a daily basis.
The court also directed the Dairy Farmers Association and all stakeholders concerned to fix milk prices at the next hearing, while seeking the procedure report from the Karachi commissioner.
Sugar commission plea
Meanwhile, a two-member bench comprising Justice KK Agha and Justice Omar Sial adjourned the hearing of a petition filed by the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association against the sugar inquiry commission's report, owing to the absence of the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP).
The court remarked that on Wednesday, it had decided that it would conduct the hearing daily following the Supreme Court's directives of the Supreme Court (SC).
The additional attorney general, Kashif Paracha, informed the court that the AGP was busy in the Supreme Court in Islamabad and requested that the hearing be adjourned until Monday.
Justice Agha declined the request and maintained that the hearing would be held today (Friday) at 8.30am. At this, Paracha stated that the AGP could not come due to a meeting of the judicial commission.
Justice Agha remarked that he could come to the hearing and then attend the meeting via video link afterwards.
The court stated that the AGP or another senior law officer must appear in court today.
On Wednesday, the SHC had rejected the federal government's request to extend the hearing data, ordering the AGP to present arguments on Thursday.
Non-availability of fuel
Meanwhile, the bench comprising Justice Mazhar and Justice Sayeed directed the petitioner to submit an Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) notification regarding petroleum products and their prices in a petition pertaining to the non-availability of light diesel and regular petrol at fuel stations across the country.
The petitioner stated that despite being included in petroleum products, light diesel and regular petrol were not available anywhere. He added that the government notification had fixed the price of light diesel at Rs54 and regular petrol at Rs45 per litre.
Due to the non-availability of regular petrol and light diesel, poor farmers and citizens had to buy super petrol and high octane fuel, he maintained, adding that light diesel could be utilised for tractors in fields while regular petrol could be used as fuel for motorcycles.
Justice Mazhar directed the petitioner to submit the notification so that the authorities could be questioned about how a product that was unavailable was included in the notification.
The court adjourned the hearing till August 13.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2020.
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