ISLAMABAD – Expressing concerns over delay in export of wheat, the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research unanimously recommended to impose 100 percent duty over import of milk powder and urged the government to speed up export, as surplus commodity would create problems for farmers for upcoming season.
Pakistan Muslim League’s Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan Committee informed the Committee that urea, hair remover powder, glycerine and other chemicals injurious to health were being mixed with milk to increase its thickness. He claimed Pakistanis were drinking white poison in form of packed milk and government should impose ban on import of milk powder or impose 100 percent duty overt it import to protect livestock sector in country.
He said a tetra pack milk packaging company has imported milk powder of worth Rs 10 billion in a year in the country, which is considered 5th largest producer of milk. It expressed anger when secretary and officials of NFS&R said according to rules of business if Committee failed to approve budget proposals till March 31 it would be considered already approved.
Meanwhile, the EEC has approved export of wheat in last month but even not a single bag of wheat has been imported. Khan told Committee new crop of wheat would be ready for harvesting within fifteen days but due to delay in export there was no space for storage of new commodity in government storages.
