ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) chief justice, Athar Minallah, expressed disappointment over inaction of the government departments causing waste of wheat flour of billions of rupee every year. He observed during the hearing into the case on August 7, 2020 the waste of wheat flour of billions of rupee was a serious crime and the court will look into it to stop this practice forthwith. IHC chief justice noted that the matter in hand (waste of wheat flour) was an issue of public interest and the court will deal it on priority basis. The complainant, Pakistan Polypropylene Association chairman Iskander Khan, informed the court that he was fighting to put an end to waste of wheat flour for years, but Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) was not delivering on its obligation of implementing mandatory SROs in this regards. He further informed the court that Pakistan Polypropylene Association reminded PSQCA several times since 2017 to show responsibility to implement its mandatory SROs to ensure the use of food grain packing for wheat flour but it never responded positively .The council for the PSQCA requested the court to grant some time for preparing the response of its client on the matter. IHC accepted the plea of the PSQCA council and adjourn the case for August 28. According to PSQCA report, Pakistan is suffering loss of Rs 38 billion every year due to using non-food grade packing. Keeping in view the nature of the matter, the government issued a mandatory SRO in 2017, for using only food grade packing for wheat flour, but as of today, these mandatory SROs of PSQCA are yet to be implemented. Seeing indifferent attitude of PSQCA and non-seriousness in implementation of its own mandatory SROs, the complainant moved IHC to seek its order to ensure implementation of PSQCA’s mandatory SROs to stop waste of wheat flour.
