‘Local sugar injurious to health’

Minister for Science and Technology admits to importing sugar from Dubai to safeguard own health.

KARACHI: Sugar produced within the country is injurious to health, according to Federal Minister for Science and Technology Azam Khan Swati. The minister added that he himself imports sugar from Dubai for personal consumption due to this fact.

He added that the sugar mafia is supplying substandard sugar worth Rs56 per kg at a market price of Rs125 per kg instead. Swati said that locally produced sugar is no less than poison.

While addressing participants at an award distribution ceremony of the Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan, Swati said that substandard goods have flooded the markets of the country and courts have failed to take notice. He said that turmeric, cement, steel bars, water, tea and life-saving drugs produced in the country are below quality and 40 per cent of all diseases spread due to the consumption of contaminated water.

Those accused of selling substandard products by the ministry successfully petition for stay orders from the court and render the decisions ineffective, he added.

He added that the ministry of science and technology has drafted amendments to Pakistan’s standards and quality control laws which will address loopholes in provincial laws regarding adulteration and quality. These laws, he said, will make prosecution easier against those producing substandard goods. The draft had been prepared in consultation with industrialists, legal experts, relevant departments, provincial governments and non-governmental organisations, he said adding that the laws will contain stricter fines and punishments.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2010.