LAHORE- The Lahore High Court on Tuesday summoned Director General Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority by March 19, on a petition challenging an alleged import of substandard carbon dioxide from India.
Justice Ayesha A Malik of the LHC was hearing the case filed by a local company. The petitioner-company contended that ministry of commerce had allowed other company to import the gas from India last year which was totally illegal and unconstitutional.
However, a law officer told the court that no written complaint was submitted against the company till the day.
The petitioner’s counsel said that the gas was included in the contraband items and could not be imported. The petitioner submitted that the ministry’s permission to import was also against the Import Policy Order 2013.
He said the gas imported from India through Wagha border did not meet the requirements of Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority as no mechanism was placed at Wagha border to check its standard.
He said imported and substandard gas was being supplied to the beverage industry for manufacturing carbonated soft drinks and may cause serious health problems to the citizens of Pakistan.
The petitioner submitted that gas was not fit for human consumption as its storage and transportation should be carried out in ISO tankers but said vessels of transportation are not available at Wagha border. The competent authority had also not issued transportation certificate.
He prayed the court to declare the permission to import CD from India as illegal and restrain the federal government from granting such permission in future.