Latest news with #Rs360
Express Tribune
13-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Milk tax
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) is urged to investigate companies selling packaged milk. Last year, these companies were selling milk at Rs200 per litre. When the current government imposed a 25% GST on litre of milk, making the price Rs250 per litre, these companies increased the price by 80% instead. Why was the increase higher than the taxed amount? Are they using the Government's tax increase to increase their profits? It is also worth noting that all of these companies sell milk at the same price of Rs360 per litre. Have they all agreed on a single price? Milk is one of our daily basic requirements. Increasing its price increases daily cost for everyone. In developed nations, milk and other staple foods are not taxed to benefit their citizens. While our current government has imposed tax on milk with everyone readily accepting it, knowing that there is not much they would be able to do. But the government should at least ensure people that the price of this daily use product does not increase furthermore. Shahryar Khan Baseer Islamabad
Express Tribune
27-01-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Sindh govt regulates formula milk sale
KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly has greenlit the Sindh Protection and Promotion of Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Act, which aims to curb the sale of infant formula milk without a doctor's prescription. Moreover, manufacturers will now be required to label their products as "artificial milk." Experts call this law a crucial step to promote breastfeeding and protect infant health in the province, including Karachi. According to the Pakistan Pediatric Association only 48% mothers in Pakistan breastfeed their children, leaving 52% dependent on formula milk. This dependency has been linked to rising cases of infant diseases, including measles, diarrhea, pneumonia, and typhoid. Medical experts, including Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA) President Prof Masood Sadiq and PPA Sindh chapter President Prof Waseem Jamalvi, and PPA General Secretary Dr Khalid Shafi, stressed the importance of breastfeeding for infants' health and development. Breastfeeding for up to two years not only strengthens a child's immunity but also enhances cognitive abilities and emotional confidence. Unlike formula milk, breast milk is naturally sterile and provides protection against several diseases. Prof Jamalvi and Dr Shafi referred to the alarming rise in the use of artificial milk, which is currently sold by 20 companies in Pakistan. Imported formula milk costs families between Rs25,000 to Rs30,000 per month, amounting to an annual expense of Rs360,000. This practice not only strains household budgets but also depletes Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves, with billions spent on formula imports. Beyond economic concerns, the experts warn that formula milk lacks the immunity-boosting properties of breast milk, leaving infants susceptible to illnesses. Many children experience severe digestive issues, such as diarrhea, due to formula consumption, underscoring the need to promote breastfeeding. The Sindh government has taken concrete steps to ensure the law's enforcement. A special board, including representatives from the Sindh Healthcare Commission and the Pakistan Pediatric Association, has been established to monitor compliance. The law imposes strict penalties for violations: 1) Doctors promoting artificial milk face fines up to Rs500,000 and six months of imprisonment. 2) Hospitals are prohibited from displaying advertisements for formula milk; 3) Medical stores cannot sell formula without a doctor's prescription. In emergencies, formula milk can only be administered under a doctor's supervision and for a limited period. The medical experts have stressed the need for public awareness about the law and the dangers of formula milk. They reiterated that artificial milk should never be considered a substitute for breastfeeding, except in rare medical cases.
