CJP asks milk producing firms not to mislead public

Chief Justice Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday warned to milk producing companies strictly to stop misleading the public and mentioned clearly about their products what they were actually. The court issued notices to seven tea-whitener and milk manufacturing companies including Shakarganj foods, Haleeb and Dalda foods. It also issued notices to two steroid manufacturing companies ICI Pharmaceutical and Ghazi Brothers for next hearing.
The CJP commenting about 'tea-whitener' and the milk said that court did not want to damage business of any company but it would not let them deceive the nation anymore. "I have stopped using powder-milk on the advice of a Hakeem (herbalist)," chief justice shared his experience with lawyers present in the court room and Director General of Punjab Food Authority (PFA) Noorul Amin Mengal.
The bench was hearing an appeal of Watan Party through Barrister Zafarullah Khan against the sale of substandard milk. Mengal told the bench that milk-safety teams had been formed to check samples of loose and packed milk on a regular basis. He said the government had banned steroid injections used to boost milk production in cows/buffalos and also cancelled licenses of the manufacturers but the manufacturing companies obtained stay orders.
CJP Nisar said it was very alarming situation that use of steroid in milk and chicken production had been causing direct effects on human body. The chief justice directed lawyers of the powder pasteurized milk manufacturing companies to make their clients write on the products in bold-text that it was not milk. The CJ also directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to strictly monitor advertisement of these companies whether they mentioned truth about their products.
PFA DG Mengal further told the bench that provision of pure milk was not possible unless sale of loose milk was stopped. He said legislation had been made for pasteurization of milk and banning the sale of loose milk. The CJP also expressed concern over sale of substandard and used cooking oil in the market and its consumption at famous food chains. Reiterating his determination to protect the rights of the citizens, Chief Justice observed, "We would not let our children consume this poison."