Ban on selling items in box packaging

RAWALPINDI:

In a decisive move, Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema has ordered all sweets shops, bakeries, and food and essential item vendors across the district to cease the practice of selling items in box packaging.

This action is in accordance with the Punjab Weights and Mayors Enforcement Act of 1975. The deputy commissioner's directive comes in response to concerns where vendors were found to be skimping on weighing food items accurately before packaging.

The sale of items in box packaging has been deemed illegal unless the full weight is properly assessed before being packed or the box and packaging itself are weighed initially.

This regulation applies to various products, including sweets, baked goods, and miscellaneous items. In light of this development, the DC has not only issued a stern warning but has also implemented a series of instructions for thorough checks, monitoring, and potential raids to enforce compliance.

Any individuals or businesses found selling underweight goods will face serious consequences, including the filing of criminal cases and substantial fines. The DC has circulated a formal notice to prominent shops, organisations, and various traders and shopkeepers' associations.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2023.