IHC takes strict action on unsafe food packaging

The IHC has ordered urgent action against the use of substandard sacks for food items, particularly wheat flour.

In a judgment issued by Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, the court declared that ignoring legal regulations issued by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority amounts to mal-administration and undermines public trust.

According to the court ruling, two categories of packaging pose serious risks, one is inferior polypropylene sack made from recycled plastic waste and second is recycled cement paper bag, both of which were described in court proceedings as a “severe, direct threat to public health.”

Furthermore, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research was directed to consult provincial food departments and regulators within 30 days to devise policy and administrative measures ensuring flour is packed only in PSQCA-certified food-grade sacks. Authorities are ordered to submit a detailed report within 90 days.

The judgment further ordered meetings among provincial food authorities within 45 days to create a joint enforcement plan, including inspections, information-sharing mechanisms, and public awareness campaigns. 

Copies of the ruling have been sent to provincial chief secretaries and food authority heads to ensure implementation across the country.

Food safety experts have warned that substandard packaging can contaminate flour and cause significant wastage and health hazards.