SC orders chemical analysis of all packaged milk brands

LAHORE: A two-member bench of the Supreme Court on Friday ordered the department concerned to conduct chemical analysis of all local and international brands of packaged milk available in the market.

The bench, led by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, is hearing a petition against the sale of substandard milk in Pakistan.The court directed the Pakistan Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (PCSIR), Agriculture University of Faisalabad, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Lahore, to conduct the analysis of all brands of packaged milk and submit a report within a month.

The judge instructed representatives of the three institutions to accomplish the task of conducting analysis of milk samples without any fear and favour as the matter was related to the lives of the people in general and of children in particular.

The judge observed that to check quality of edible items was the responsibility of the government but the court had to do it.The bench appointed Advocate Haider Rasool Mirza as coordinator and adjourned the hearing for four weeks.

Barrister Zafarullah Khan stated in his petition that not only loose milk but the packaged milk being consumed by people was also adulterated with chemicals, including detergent power, which were not fit for human consumption. He submitted that the use of contaminated and sub-standard diseases including cancer and hepatitis C among people.

He stated that there was not a single laboratory in Pakistan that had the capability to gauge contamination of chemicals in milk and water. Barrister Khan said people were being fed poison through the use of steroid injection for boosting milk production of buffaloes and quick growth of broiler chicken. He prayed to the court to ban the use of contaminated, adulterated milk and water, sale of quickly grown poultry as well as the sale of injections being used for buffaloes.