Hinting about the ongoing targeted operation by rangers and police to continue for years till the elimination of last criminal from the metropolis, Sindh Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon said this Eid-ul-Azha did not witness bhatta mafia on hides of sacrificial animals.
The minister stated this while addressing the 6th food safety and quality conference organised by the Consumers Association of Pakistan at a local hotel on Tuesday.
He said the targeted operation in the city would continue till the elimination of last terrorist that could take years as the Sindh government was committed to restoring peace at any cost.
The minister said the rangers and police were working against terrorists despite all unfavorable challenges. A ministerial task force on consumers’ products and rights, and a food security council would be established soon wherein representatives of food, agriculture and industries departments and private sectors would be included as well, he added.
He said: “Legal action will be taken against the companies which violate consumers’ rights and sell out sub-standard products. No one will be allowed to play with the lives and health of a common man.” He lauded the role of industrialists who were running industries in difficult times and pledged to provide complete protection to the industrialists. ‘Legislation will be made regarding consumers’ rights in the session of Sindh Assembly which will be held in November,” the minister added.
Sharjeel demanded of the federal government to reduce tariff of electricity, gas and petrol so that wheel of the industries could move on.
He said an inquiry had been launched for probing corruption in the Kotri plant and all the corrupt would be brought to task.
The information minister said economic growth and prosperity were linked to the consumers’ rights and their freedom of choice for using products of different qualities. The consumers should be ensured to have access to quality products and foods which was related to their health and lives, he added.
The Sindh urged NGOs and think tanks of consumer rights to help government form task force and experts’ advisory council for protection to consumer rights and he also directed the CAP to support the provincial government in ensuring consumers’ fundamental rights.
Memon said an exclusive bill would be tabled soon by the parliamentarians in the Sindh Assembly for taking action against companies which were unregistered and non-compliant of hygienic standards for producing food products.
The provincial government was committed to facilitate businessmen through conducive environment and policies, he said, adding that the federal government should play its role to reduce cost of production through taxes.
The CAP chairman said the government’s writ would be established and revenues would be flourished with the protection of business and consumers fundamental rights in the province.
The conference highlighted various issues of consumers’ protection, their health and standards of edible products being sold out in various consumers markets of Pakistan. It envisioned assembling of experts of consumer protectionists, health and products standards under one roof to raise issues with participants and policymakers regarding violation of consumer rights and its disadvantages to the society.
Distinguished speakers of the conference including Dr Prof Jehan Ara, Chairperson Food Science and Technology, University of Karachi, Dr Abdual Jabbar Sheikh, DG Health Regulation and Quality Control, KMC, Ms Tahseen S Bhombal, Director Bhombal Group, Faisal Iqbal, Regional Manager of Malaysian Palm Oil Council and Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui also spoke on the occasion.
The daylong conference was also addressed by by S M Munir, Chairman Din Group and leader of business community, Abu Bakar Mamat, Consuel General Malaysia, Gulzar Firoz President FPCCI, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, Mian Zahid Hussain, President Pakistan Business and Intellectual Forum, Asad Alam Mahani, Director General Punjab Food Authority and Pir Buksh Khan Jamir, DG PSQCA.
The event was supported by Malaysian Palm Oil Council while PSQCA & Punjab Food Authority were the strategic partners. Shezan International Limited, Dalda, Bhombal Group, Shan, A&S Oil and Habib Oil Mills (Pvt.) Ltd were the cause partner and TCS was the supportive partner of the event.
