56 cosmetics companies using dangerous level of mercury in products: minister

A research conducted by Ministry of Climate Change has revealed that 56 cosmetics companies out of 59 have been using dangerous level of mercury in their skin whitening and other skin related creams and products.
Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul said this while addressing a workshop on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) here on Thursday. The workshop was organised to develop an action plan for POPs' management in the country.
The minister said that these companies have been using excessive amount of mercury in their products which is causing numerous skin related diseases including the cancer.
She said that excessive amount of mercury in the beauty products damages the upper part of the skin that ultimately leads to diseases. "These companies have been swindling gullible women and selling dangerous products to them to whiten their skins," she said.
Gul said that her ministry has been working on the issue and would soon issue notices to the companies that have been playing with health of the people.
"The government is fully aware of all issues of the masses including the minute ones and would try to resolve them all at the earliest possible," she said.
She also stressed the need for creating awareness among the young girls and women against the fake and spurious beauty products.
The minister said that it is the foremost duty of the government to provide basic facilities to the people and Pakistan is changing rapidly under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Ministry of Climate Change has initiated numerous projects to address the issue of global warming and its adverse impacts on the daily lives of people including agriculture and other sectors, she said.
She said that the youth have been asset of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government and they would be utilised in Ten Billion Tree Tsunami campaign of the government.
Talking about the politics, she said the government is committed to rooting out corruption from the country and Prime Minister Khan would neither extend an NRO nor any other relief to the corrupt people.
"Pakistan is about to take off in terms of economy due to wise policies of the government," she added.