The Islamabad High Court has banned the use of substandard sacks for packing food items, warning that the practice poses serious health risks to the public.
In a written judgment, Justice Azam Khan observed that flour packed in used cement bags and other unsafe materials could lead to severe illnesses, including cancer.
The court directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and provincial authorities across Pakistan to jointly enforce the ban. Chief secretaries and provincial food authorities have been ordered to ensure strict implementation within their jurisdictions.
The court further instructed the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority and the Food Ministry to submit a compliance report within three months.
Authorities have also been ordered to launch a nationwide crackdown within 30 days against the manufacture, storage, and sale of substandard food packaging sacks. Raids will be conducted on factories, warehouses, and shops involved, with confiscation of materials and criminal action, including arrests, against violators.
The court stressed that laws must be actively enforced to protect citizens’ lives and health, directing authorities to ensure immediate and effective implementation of the order.
