KARACHI – The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday issued notices to the Sindh chief secretary, City District Government Karachi and other respondents on a constitutional petition seeking implementation of consumer laws across the province and government action against the price hike in different edible items, including milk and milk products. Rana Faiz-ul-Hassan of the United Human Rights had moved a constitutional petition in which he stated that court had issued directions to the Sindh government for the implementation of the consumer protection law in Sindh, but till now, no substantive action had been taken.
Citing the chief secretary, CDGK administrator, and dairy farmers’ associations as respondents, the petitioner claimed that the price hike in milk and milk products had increased thrice in two months, with 10 to 12 rupees increased over the past couple of days. A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Musheer Alam and Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi issued notices, but a date for hearing will be fixed later.
Meanwhile, Karachi Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed has summoned a high-level meeting on Saturday to consider the recent hike in the prices of fresh milk, with representatives of milk seller’s associations and consumer’s associations set to debate the matter and chalk out a strategy at the Civic Centre.
Those who have been invited include the chairpersons of the Consumer Rights Council of Karachi, Consumer Association of Pakistan, Consumer Forum Karachi and Help Line Trust, as well as the general-secretaries of the Karachi Dairy Farm Association, Dairy Farm Association Karachi, and Fresh Milk Wholesalers Association. The City District Government Karachi will be represented by E&IP EDO, Agriculture EDO, Additional EDO Revenue, and Livestock district officer among others.
