Nearly 36% of packaged ghee, edible oil and milk samples collected from markets across Pakistan have failed to meet national quality standards, according to findings released by the Ministry of Planning.
The assessment was based on 491 samples tested by the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR). Of the total, 315 samples met the prescribed standards, while 176 were declared non-compliant.
The findings were presented during a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC), chaired by Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal.
The report showed that vanaspati ghee recorded one of the highest failure rates, with 98 out of 204 samples, or 48%, failing to meet national standards.
Similarly, 40 out of 146 blended cooking oil samples, or 27%, were found substandard. Among packaged liquid milk, 26 out of 104 samples, equivalent to 25%, failed the quality test.
The ministry said eight out of 18 milk powder samples were non-compliant, while three out of four refined palm oil samples failed to meet the required standards. One out of 13 refined canola oil samples was also declared substandard.
The consolidated findings were prepared by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), while the assessment was carried out through PCSIR under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The report also highlighted concerns over the quality of some milk products. In one sample, milk fat was recorded at just 0.8% against the minimum requirement of 3.5%.
Samples from leading multinational packaged milk producers were found to meet the required standards, while quality issues were identified in products from relatively lesser-known local brands.
The findings raised concerns over the availability of low-quality food products in the market and the effectiveness of existing food safety and regulatory mechanisms.
Ahsan Iqbal took serious notice of growing concerns over cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable illnesses, particularly among younger Pakistanis.
He directed provincial governments, regional administrations and relevant regulatory authorities to conduct a nationwide survey of loose and unpackaged edible oil, ghee and milk sold across the country.
The survey will assess the quality of these products, identify regional trends, determine the causes of quality deficiencies and examine whether substandard food products are posing risks to public health.
The minister said food quality had become a matter of national importance and stressed that ensuring access to safe and healthy food was a government responsibility.
He also constituted a specialized technical subcommittee comprising experts from the Ministry of Planning, PCSIR and PSQCA.
The subcommittee will examine the laboratory findings and submit evidence-based recommendations for regulatory and policy action.
Iqbal directed that the next phase of testing should specifically focus on loose edible oil, ghee and milk, which were not covered in the current assessment of packaged products.
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