KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Sunday ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and drug inspectors to check the sale of hormonal injections used to induce dairy cows and buffaloes to produce more milk.
Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, a three-judge bench of the apex court gave this order while hearing a case pertaining to sale of substandard milk in the city.
At the outset of the hearing at Karachi registry, Nazir, an official of the court, informed that a number of raids were carried out in the city to confiscate hormone injections used to enhance milk production in buffaloes and cows.
He said 39 packets of hormonal injections were seized from medical stores in different parts of city.
The chief justice directed the provincial health secretary to assign drug inspectors to carry out raids in the metropolis to seize such hormonal injections used by dairy farmers to spur milk in cows and buffaloes.
He observed Punjab Food Authority had done a lot of work, which was why, he said, improvement was visible there, whereas situation in Sindh province was far worse.
The bench ordered examination of packed milk and whitening chemicals being sold in the city and summoned a report in this regard within two weeks.
Laboratory test of packaged milk for adulterants detection
On Saturday (yesterday), the CJP ordered laboratory test of all brands of packaged milk for detection of adulteration.
He expressed extreme displeasure over Sindh government’s inaction in making certain policies to prevent supply of substandard packaged milk.
“The province has no food authority to check quality of milk and eatables,” CJP Nisar noted while pointing out Sindh government’s apathy to address health-related issues.
On which, Advocate General Sindh responded that legislation to establish a body to check food quality is in the pipeline.
“So the supply of substandard milk to residents will continue until legislation is carried out,” the chief justice quipped.
He also expressed annoyance over the authorities concerned for failing to submit a detailed report on the use of hormone injections to increase milk production.
“The injections administered to cows are resulting in breast cancer and other hormonal problems in women,” he remarked.
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