ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology has sought comprehensive details on the ingredients used in energy drinks along with a complete scientific analysis to enable the committee to deliberate on appropriate regulatory measures.
The committee met here on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Senator Kamil Ali Agha. The committee undertook a comprehensive review of legislative, regulatory and administrative matters relating to public health, food safety, institutional governance, organisational restructuring and appointments in the organisations attached to the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The committee considered the Private Member Bill titled “the Islamabad Capital Territory Food Safety (Amendment) Bill, 2025”, introduced by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri during the Senate sitting held on May 19, 2025.
The proposed legislation seeks to protect public health by regulating the availability and consumption of high-sugar and high-caffeine beverages and soft drinks across Islamabad, particularly among children and adolescents. The bill aims to restrict the sale of such products, promote healthier alternatives, and strengthen the implementation of the Islamabad Capital Territory Food Safety Act, 2021, to ensure the availability of safe and healthy food products.
Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri expressed concern over the growing prevalence of diabetes and unhealthy dietary habits among children. She stated that Pakistan ranks first in the world in diabetes due to the absence of effective checks and balances. It was further observed that a 250ml bottle of soft drink contains approximately nine tablespoons of sugar, underscoring the serious public health implications of excessive sugar consumption.
The committee was informed by the Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, that certain provisions of the proposed bill exceeded the legal ambit of the authority concerned and infringed upon the existing regulatory framework. The secretary suggested that instead of introducing a separate legal framework, the required amendments should be incorporated into the existing law.
Representatives of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority informed the committee that standards governing such products had already been developed by the authority. They maintained that introducing another parallel set of standards would create duplication and legislative conflict. It was agreed that the bill would be revised and amended accordingly to avoid overlapping legislation while achieving its intended public health objectives.
The committee also reviewed measures to ensure timely inspection of betel nuts before distribution to consumers to prevent fungal contamination and safeguard public health.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Hussain Magsi informed the committee that betel nuts enter Pakistan through smuggling, while the remaining quantity is imported legally. He stated that imported consignments are subject to plant protection requirements and laboratory testing.
The minister informed the committee that the areas through which betel nuts are smuggled have become high-security zones, making enforcement operations increasingly difficult.
Responding to queries regarding packed betel nut, the minister informed the committee that such products originate from India and enter Pakistan through road routes. He stated that the primary transport corridor runs through Quetta and Karachi via the M-8 Motorway to Sukkur.
The committee also reviewed serious administrative, legal, regulatory, and governance concerns relating to the continuation of the services of the Director General, Pakistan Halal Authority, beyond the expiry of the contractual tenure.
The committee also reviewed the latest position regarding the closure, merger, and restructuring of organisations functioning under the administrative control of the Ministry of Science and Technology, including the Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET), Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST), National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), and Council for Works and Housing Research (CWHR).
The Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, informed the committee that PCRET has been abolished following a decision of the federal government. He assured members that no employee had been dismissed, rendered unemployed, or deprived of salary.
Chairman Senator Kamil Ali Agha expressed concern over the uncertainty faced by employees who had served for nearly 30 years. He stated that their future remained undecided and that prolonged uncertainty had adversely affected their professional reputation. He directed that their future should be decided without delay and that they should be adjusted in the relevant government departments.
The Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, informed the committee that appointments of eight heads of organisations have been regularised, while recruitment for the remaining positions is currently in process. He further stated that certain previous appointments could not be finalised as candidates failed to meet the eligibility criteria prescribed in the advertisements.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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