The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued notices to 18 sugar mills with directions to explain their position after the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) submitted a report that these companies are producing substandard sugar and directed PSQCA to submit details about these companies within seven days.
The court remarked that it is a serious issue and cannot be overlooked as consumption of sugar is directly linked to people's health. PSQCA filed its report during the hearing of an Intra court appeal of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) against the decision of single bench under which import of Indian sugar was permitted.
PSMA's counsel contended that certain companies had imported Indian sugar and when it was challenged LHC had sought a report from PSQCA, which reported that Indian sugar contained higher quantity of Sulphur.
The petitioner said sugar mills in Pakistan are producing A-class sugar but the single bench by permitting import of Indian sugar had given these companies license to kill.