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Islamabad High Court Bans Substandard Food Sacks, Orders Nationwide Crackdown

The ruling orders a nationwide crackdown within 30 days to remove non-compliant sacks from the flour supply chain.

Overview

  • The court declared years of non-enforcement of PSQCA SROs arbitrary and a breach of constitutional rights under Articles 9, 14 and 38.
  • PSQCA must begin a nationwide drive within 30 days to identify, seize and prosecute manufacture, storage, sale and transport of sacks lacking the PS mark under PS:3128 or misused cement bags under PS:4877.
  • Enforcement extends beyond manufacturers to distributors, warehouses and transporters, with raids, confiscations, fines and potential criminal cases and arrests.
  • The Ministry of National Food Security must coordinate with provinces, file a joint enforcement plan within 45 days and report measures within 90 days, including steps to require certified sacks for wheat released by government.
  • The judgment rejected PSQCA and ministry claims of limited jurisdiction and highlighted public-health and economic harms, including petitioned estimates of 3–5% flour wastage, Rs23–38 billion in annual losses and cancer risks from reused cement bags.