During a pivotal meeting on food security, Senator Aimal Wali Khan made shocking allegations about Pakistan’s food safety and regulatory systems.
The session, hosted by the Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security under the leadership of Senator Syed Masroor Hassan, focused on challenges faced by basmati rice exports to the European Union (EU).
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Senator Khan claimed that plastic rice and meat from animals like donkeys, dogs, and frogs were being sold in the country, attributing this to the absence of effective food quality controls.
He further revealed that only 22% of the milk sold in Pakistan is authentic, while the remaining 78% consists of chemically altered substances.
In response, the committee decided to form a sub-committee tasked with developing a food safety policy. The Ministry of National Food Security & Research (MNFS&R) reported that 107 rice consignments to the EU had been rejected in 2024 out of 10,300 total shipments.
Additionally, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has filed 17 FIRs over mismanagement in rice exports, leading to several arrests.
Senator Aimal Wali criticized food security officials for their failure to prevent consignment rejections, while Senator Dinesh Kumar called for a more comprehensive food safety policy. The committee also discussed the outstanding cotton cess payments, with plans for recovery in the works.