This is apropos a letter to the Editor titled ‘Unsafe food, a regulatory failure’ carried by the newspaper yesterday.
The findings of Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) report on milk are equally concerning. Packaged liquid milk with insufficient milk-fat content and powdered milk containing inadequate levels of protein raise serious questions about both nutritional value and consumer protection. Milk is a staple food, particularly for children, and compromising its quality can have consequences for public health and nutritional outcomes across generations.
The provincial variations also deserve serious attention. The high levels of non-conformance reported in Sindh, Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa indicate that enforcement is uneven across the country. The possibility that rural markets are receiving a disproportionate share of inferior products makes the situation even more disturbing. Poorer consumers cannot reasonably be expected to identify adulterated or substandard food simply by examining its packaging or comparing prices.
The government’s decision to establish a quarterly monitoring mechanism is a welcome step, but periodic testing alone will not solve the problem. What we need is a coordinated national food-safety framework involving federal regulators, provincial food authorities, laboratories, and local administrations. Testing must be regular, transparent and representative of both urban and rural markets. Its results should be made public, while repeat offenders should face meaningful penalties.
Saleem Bokhari, Lahore
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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