KARACHI, June 8: A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Friday adjourned the proceedings of a petition seeking directives for the fixing of fair and justified retail and wholesale rates of fresh milk till June 11.

As the matter came up for the hearing, the bench -- comprising Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Justice Mohammad Ather Saeed -- put off the proceedings because the counsel for the Karachi city government was not present.

The petitioner, Hafiz Nisar, President of the All Karachi Milk Retailers’ Association, has moved against the milk retail price of Rs28 and Rs26 as the wholesale price. These were notified by the city government on April 20, 2006.

The petition argued that the city government was not authorised to fix the milk prices, which should be done by the provincial government of Sindh.

The director general, supply price and control, the city government, and the Karachi Dairy Farm Association — included in the total of 22 — are cited as respondents in the petition.

—APP