All milk samples collected from Karachi have been declared unfit for human consumption, the Sindh High Court (SHC) was told in a report submitted by the city commissioner.
The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), after testing the samples, reported the presence of formalin in 22 samples and phosphate in eight, indicating widespread adulteration.
The report, submitted before a two-judge SHC bench headed by Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry, stated that hygiene and safety practices followed by farmers, wholesalers, and retailers were hazardous for public health.
It added that a milk retailer association had requested citywide quality checks, and all collected samples failed PSQCA testing.
The commissioner further noted that there was no justification for any increase in the price of fresh milk, especially as the winter season typically brings a decline in demand for milk-based products.
A notification issued on November 27 fixed the retail price at Rs. 220 per litre and directed all associations to follow the notified rates, ensure correct measurement, and comply with newly formulated SOPs for hygiene and safety.
The case originated from a 2023 petition filed by a dairy farmer challenging the official milk price set by the provincial authorities. The petitioner claimed the notified rate was lower than the cost calculated under the government’s own formula.
Earlier this year, the SHC had directed the commissioner to hear all stakeholders and set the price according to the law. With no representative from the petitioner present to contest the commissioner’s latest report, the bench placed the document on record and disposed of the petition.
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