Karachi: Syed Hassan Naqvi, the dynamic Commissioner of Karachi, chaired an important Fresh Milk Price Fixation Meeting at the Commissioner’s Office, Karachi, aimed at reviewing the current situation of milk supply, quality standards, and proposed pricing for fresh milk across the city. Key stakeholders, including representatives of milk suppliers, dairy associations, district administration, and consumer bodies, were present to deliberate on this sensitive public issue.
Kaukab Iqbal, Chairman of the Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP), actively represented the voice of the consumers and raised serious concerns regarding the prevailing conditions of milk supply and its impact on the general public. He categorically stated that before any decision is made regarding the fixation or increase of fresh milk prices, it must be ensured that citizens of Karachi are provided with pure, hygienic, and unadulterated milk.
Serious Concerns Over Adulteration
While addressing the meeting, Kaukab Iqbal highlighted that the majority of milk shops in Karachi are selling milk that is heavily adulterated with harmful chemicals and water, which poses a grave threat to public health, especially for children, elderly citizens, and patients. He informed the Commissioner that despite existing regulations, adulteration has become a routine practice due to weak monitoring and lack of strict enforcement.
He further stressed that consumers are not even receiving milk in proper kilogram measurements. Instead, milk is often sold by unstandardized containers and inaccurate measuring methods, resulting in financial exploitation of the public. This, he said, means that consumers are already paying excessively high prices for substandard and unsafe milk.
Non-Food Grade Storage and Hygiene Issues
The Chairman CAP also pointed out that most fresh milk shops lack proper food-grade storage facilities. He emphasized that milk is being stored in unhygienic containers and environments, violating basic food safety standards. Such practices not only degrade the quality of milk but also create serious health hazards for consumers.
He urged the Commissioner to take immediate notice of this critical situation and ensure that strict quality control mechanisms are enforced citywide.
Demand for SOPs Before Price Fixation
Kaukab Iqbal firmly proposed that comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) must be formulated and implemented for all milk vendors before finalizing any new milk prices. These SOPs should include:
Mandatory supply of unadulterated and pure milk
Accurate sale by proper kilogram measurement
Use of certified food-grade containers
Regular inspection and monitoring by concerned authorities
Heavy penalties for violations and adulteration
He reiterated that price fixation without ensuring quality, safety, and fair measurement would be unjust to the citizens of Karachi and would further burden the already struggling consumer.
Commissioner’s Response
Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi appreciated the concerns raised by the Chairman CAP and acknowledged the importance of ensuring quality and hygiene in milk supply. He assured the participants that the administration would review the issues seriously and take necessary measures to protect consumer interests
