Karachi: A crackdown on illegal and substandard products has been initiated in Karachi as directed by the Minister of Science and Technology. The Director Conformity Assessment (CA) Islamabad Zone tasked Conformity Assessment Officers with identifying and removing non-licensed products from the market. This operation involved surveillance of both food and non-food items, leading to the removal of non-licensed brands lacking the PS Mark from superstores.

According to Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority, the Director General PSQCA, Mr. Taufique Ali Abbasi, has mandated a comprehensive crackdown to eliminate non-compliant items. The operation uncovered various unlicensed products, including skin cream, toilet soap, hair dye, iodized salt, red chili powder, fruit drinks, pickles, and jams. Managers of stores stocking these items were notified to cease carrying non-licensed items, with a warning of confiscation and legal action for non-compliance. Notices are also being issued to manufacturers under Section 14 of the PSQCA Act 1996 to halt manufacturing and sales without a valid PSQCA license. Mr. Abbasi stressed the importance of ensuring public health and safety and protecting consumer rights, highlighting that negligence in this task will not be tolerated.