Court observed that packaging flour in old cement bags contributed to serious illnesses
Bags of flour are unloaded at Karachi’s Jodia Bazaar. PHOTO: PPI
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court on Saturday imposed a ban on the use of poor-quality bags for packaging food, warning that the practice poses serious health risks.
In a written judgment delivered by Justice Azam Khan, the court observed that packaging of flour in old cement bags contributed to serious diseases, including cancer.
The court ordered the federal Ministry of Research and National Food Security and the four provinces to coordinate the implementation of the ban. Chief secretaries and provincial food authorities have been directed to ensure strict implementation of the order within their respective jurisdictions.
Read: Quetta flour prices defy relief
The IHC further directed the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and the Ministry of Food to submit a complete compliance report within three months.
The court ordered authorities to launch a nationwide crackdown within 30 days against the manufacture, storage and sale of poor quality bags used for packaging food.
He also ordered raids on factories, warehouses and businesses involved in the production or distribution of said bags, with instructions to confiscate the material. The court said violators should not only be fined but also face criminal proceedings and arrests.
Read more: KP cabinet approves aid and wheat package
“The law is not intended simply to be displayed in books, but to protect the life and property of citizens,” the court noted in its decision.
The authorities have been tasked with ensuring immediate and effective implementation to safeguard public health.
