Anti-profiteering: ‘Milk retailers earn profits of Rs1.8b by overcharging’
Commissioner seeks action against milk retailers for mixing chemicals.
During a survey by The Express Tribune, it was revealed that people were buying milk for up to Rs80 per litre in some areas. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Milk retailers continue to mix chemicals in their products, selling them at exorbitant prices, despite various efforts by the commissioner’s office to curb the practice, The Express Tribune learnt on Wednesday. Retailers have reportedly grossed profits of about Rs1.8 billion in merely one month by such practices.
During a survey by The Express Tribune, it was revealed that people were buying milk for up to Rs80 per litre in some areas. On the other hand, the commissioner’s office, after consulting retailers and whole sellers, had fixed the price at Rs70 per litre.
The Dairy Farm Association’s vice president, Hakimuddin, was quick to blame the retailers’ association for overcharging milk products. “We have offered the commissioner and other officials to visit the dairy farm houses to check for the purity and prices of milk.” He pointed out, however, that it was the responsibility of the milk retailers to not sell sub-standard and adulterated products.
Taking notice of the anomalies, Karachi commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui had directed all assistant commissioners to conduct surprise visits at different shops and penalise them if found to be indulging in such practices. “Sellers of adulterated milk do not deserve any mercy. A massive crackdown against them will be launched soon,” the commissioner said.
He also directed the additional commissioner (II), Haji Ahmed, to visit dairy farms, milk storage units and retailers’ shops across the city. “The commissioner office will not let hoarders and play with the lives of citizens,” warned the commissioner. The commissioner presided over a meeting on Wednesday with different stake holders, including the Karachi dairy farmers and suppliers association, whole sellers and consumer associations.
On the occasion, the representative of Untied Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (UHRCP), Rana Faizul Hassan, presented a detailed report mentioning that 90 per cent of the milk available at retailers’ shops contained impurities.
“This is besides the facts that people are forced to purchase milk at much higher prices than the fixed rates,” he informed the meeting.
The participants of the meeting unanimously decided that the official fixed rates for sale of milk by dairy farmers and producers will be Rs64.50 per kg, Rs67 per kg by whole-sellers and Rs70 per kg by retailers.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2013.
Milk retailers continue to mix chemicals in their products, selling them at exorbitant prices, despite various efforts by the commissioner’s office to curb the practice, The Express Tribune learnt on Wednesday. Retailers have reportedly grossed profits of about Rs1.8 billion in merely one month by such practices.
During a survey by The Express Tribune, it was revealed that people were buying milk for up to Rs80 per litre in some areas. On the other hand, the commissioner’s office, after consulting retailers and whole sellers, had fixed the price at Rs70 per litre.
The Dairy Farm Association’s vice president, Hakimuddin, was quick to blame the retailers’ association for overcharging milk products. “We have offered the commissioner and other officials to visit the dairy farm houses to check for the purity and prices of milk.” He pointed out, however, that it was the responsibility of the milk retailers to not sell sub-standard and adulterated products.
Taking notice of the anomalies, Karachi commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui had directed all assistant commissioners to conduct surprise visits at different shops and penalise them if found to be indulging in such practices. “Sellers of adulterated milk do not deserve any mercy. A massive crackdown against them will be launched soon,” the commissioner said.
He also directed the additional commissioner (II), Haji Ahmed, to visit dairy farms, milk storage units and retailers’ shops across the city. “The commissioner office will not let hoarders and play with the lives of citizens,” warned the commissioner. The commissioner presided over a meeting on Wednesday with different stake holders, including the Karachi dairy farmers and suppliers association, whole sellers and consumer associations.
On the occasion, the representative of Untied Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (UHRCP), Rana Faizul Hassan, presented a detailed report mentioning that 90 per cent of the milk available at retailers’ shops contained impurities.
“This is besides the facts that people are forced to purchase milk at much higher prices than the fixed rates,” he informed the meeting.
The participants of the meeting unanimously decided that the official fixed rates for sale of milk by dairy farmers and producers will be Rs64.50 per kg, Rs67 per kg by whole-sellers and Rs70 per kg by retailers.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2013.