KARACHI: Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) has decided to impose a ban on the sale of loose edible oil and ghee in the county. This was stated by Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) Director General Khalid Siddiqui while speaking at the 10th Consumers Food Safety & Quality Conference. The event was organised by Consumer Association of Pakistan (CAP) with the collaboration of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and Sindh government. The PSQCA director general said that in light of action against the sale of loose edible oil and ghee, advertisements are being published in newspapers. “Production of ghee and oil has to be ensured as per set standards of the PSQCA,” Siddiqui clarified, while adding that the PSQCA, being the sole national standard body, was fully aware of the substandard counterfeit products. The PSQCA DG warned violators, whom he said, would be dealt with in accordance with the law. According to some estimates, 400 tonnes of substandard loose edible oil and ghee is being sold in Karachi on a daily basis, putting citizens’ lives at high risk. Khalid Siddiqui said, “I assure you that PSQCA will not let counterfeiters free or unchecked in Pakistan.” Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Sindh on Information Science and Technology Dr Sikandar Ali Shoro said that the Sindh government has given paramount importance to the public safety and their health issues, which was evident from the fact that Sindh Food Authority has been established along with the enforcement of Consumers Protection Act in the province. “Provincial government was reviewing international laws and practices for quality control of food items to enact them on the soil of Pakistan. Rules and regulations will be rolled out and implemented soon in the province,” Dr Shoro added. Speakers said that food safety is a worldwide issue affecting hundreds of millions of people who suffer from diseases caused by contaminated food. The World Health Organisation (WHO) termed it one of the most widespread health problems and an important cause of reduced economic productivity. Another speaker, Kaukab Iqbal, Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP) chairman, urged the Sindh government for establishment of Sindh Food Authority (SFA) as well as consumer courts to ensure consumers’ rights with immediate effect. Kaukab Iqbal said that the quality and safety of food have to be ensured throughout the food production, processing, storage and distribution chain. “Throughout Asia, especially in Pakistan, there is an urgent need for high quality, safe food suppliers and this has created a big opportunity for small to medium sized food businesses to flourish their businesses,” Iqbal added. He said safe food supply was a multi-sectorial activity and its objectives cannot be reached without the active cooperation of producers, traders, industry and government agencies. It is the responsibility of every food business to ensure that all food is safe and suitable for human health, he added. Published in Daily Times, December 11th 2017.