Islamabad, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, the Federal Minister for Science and Technology, has initiated a push towards harmonizing food business regulations across Pakistan’s provinces. In a concerted effort to unify the country’s approach to food safety and quality, Dr. Siddiqui has penned letters to the chief ministers of Punjab, KPK, Sindh, and Balochistan, underscoring the importance of standardized rules to bolster national food safety measures and streamline the process for import and export activities.

According to Press Information Department, the minister pointed out the challenges posed by the current regulatory landscape, where variations in rules and enforcement between provinces and federal entities have led to inefficiencies and potential risks in maintaining the safety and quality of food products available to consumers. Dr. Siddiqui’s communications emphasize the crucial role of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) in setting nationwide standards, arguing for its exclusive authority in this domain to mitigate duplication of efforts and confusion arising from separate provincial standards, particularly post the 18th constitutional amendment.

Dr. Siddiqui highlighted the difficulties faced by manufacturers due to overlapping jurisdictions between the PSQCA and provincial food authorities, which complicates compliance and operational efficiency. He referenced decisions by the Council of Common Interest to unify regulations under the PSQCA’s purview and the Special Investment Facilitation Council’s stance on simplifying business operations through the harmonization of standards. The minister’s advocacy for streamlined regulations aims to foster a more efficient, consistent, and business-friendly environment within Pakistan’s food sector, promoting both domestic welfare and competitiveness in international markets.