ISLAMABAD: The government has ordered a comprehensive nationwide food quality monitoring system and strict action against manufacturers and producers supplying substandard food products, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal said.
Chairing a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee, the minister directed the four provincial food authorities to work together to establish coordinated food quality standards, conduct scientific testing on a quarterly basis and strengthen enforcement across urban, rural and remote areas.
The directives followed a review of a report by the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) based on the analysis of around 491 samples of vegetable ghee, cooking oil and milk.
The report revealed significant quality concerns in several food products.
Among the findings, 26 vegetable ghee samples contained trans-fat levels above the prescribed limit, with the highest recorded level reaching 15.87 grams per 100 grams against the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) limit of 2 grams.
Peroxide values exceeded permissible limits in 22 samples, while 15 samples contained excessive free fatty acids. Vitamin A was absent from 46 vegetable ghee samples, while problems related to oil deterioration and excessive moisture were also identified.
The analysis further found that 26 blended cooking oil samples lacked Vitamin A, while four samples exceeded the permissible peroxide value. The highest recorded value was 76.71 against the prescribed limit of 10.
Of four refined palm olein samples tested, three failed to meet the required standard.
Concerns were also identified in milk products. All 26 non-compliant packaged liquid milk samples had milk-fat content below the prescribed standard, while all eight non-compliant milk powder samples contained protein levels below the required limit.
Provincial variation in food quality
The report showed considerable variation in the proportion of substandard vegetable ghee samples across different regions. The highest proportion was recorded in Balochistan at 79.4 per cent, followed by Sindh at 63.3 per cent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 58.3 per cent, Punjab at 15.9 per cent and Islamabad at 5.5 per cent.
For blended cooking oil, substandard samples accounted for 47.7 per cent in Sindh and 46.6 per cent in Balochistan.
All refined palm olein samples collected from Sindh and Balochistan reportedly failed to meet the prescribed standards, while all packaged liquid milk samples collected from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were also found to be non-compliant.
Manufacturers to face accountability
Ahsan Iqbal directed authorities to ensure that enforcement against substandard products does not remain limited to retailers.
He said manufacturers and production facilities must also be held accountable when their products fail to meet prescribed standards.
The minister called for stronger coordination between federal and provincial institutions and directed the establishment of a nationwide food quality monitoring mechanism covering both major markets and less accessible areas.
He also ordered that the complete PCSIR report be forwarded to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research for necessary action.
The minister stressed that the government’s objective was not to shut down industries but to improve product quality and ensure that consumers have access to safe and standardised food products.
LPG price disparity also reviewed
The meeting also reviewed the significant difference between OGRA’s notified LPG prices and prices prevailing in the market.
Ahsan Iqbal noted that around 80 per cent of the country’s population relies on LPG for household cooking, making effective monitoring of its market prices particularly important.
He directed the Ministry of Petroleum and OGRA to develop clear guidelines and convene a meeting to address the issue, with progress to be ensured within three days.
The minister reiterated that public health, food safety and the availability of quality products remain among the government’s key priorities, stressing that effective monitoring and enforcement are essential to protect consumers.