The customs department appears feckless to prevent the imports of 'Haram' food products, being offered at markets across the country during Ramazan; it is learnt on Wednesday.
Sources said that ministry of Science and Technology has forwarded a letter to commerce secretary, member customs and all chief secretaries of five provinces and AJK to stop the imports and sale of food products containing 'Haram' ingredients in the country two months prior to Ramazan.
However, after the lapse of over two months, concerned authorities in general and customs department in particular failed to understand the gravity of the situation.
Officials posted at different arms of customs department - Preventive and Appraisement expressed incognisance over the said phenomena, saying that no such information was received so far.
Meanwhile, official at the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation (DGI&I)-FBR, Karachi confirmed to have received a letter from Islamabad.
He said the DGI&I-FBR, Islamabad through a letter had directed the Karachi office to ensure prevention of the imports of 'Haram' food products in the country.
Reacting to it, DGI&I, Karachi has informed all Collectorates about the imports of food products that contained 'Haram' ingredients including white wine, red wine, cochineal, E120, Gelatin, Non-Halal chicken, etc, through its intelligence alerts, he added.
Replying to a question, he dispelled the impression of uninterrupted imports of the said products, saying that the Collectorate had neither released nor seized any consignment containing 'Haram' products, reflecting that no import of such products was made after intelligence alerts.
According to the letter, the ministry has issued a list of some 23 imported food products that contain 'Haram' ingredients. The ministry through the letter requested all concerned to initiate necessary action to block the imports of 'Haram' food products in the country. Ministry of science and technology has also urged commerce ministry to evolve a comprehensive mechanism in consultation with the FBR to ensure the imports of products in accordance with import policy.
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