The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday heard a case regarding the sale of 'substandard' cooking oil and ghee products in Utility Stores Corporation (USC) outlets across the country.

The lawyer representing USC, Mustafa Ramday, submitted a report on the oil being sold during proceedings.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar told the lawyer that he should inform the court of ground realities and not present his theories in court.

He added that the court believes in the working of national organisations but it would not stand by as the people are deprived of their rights.

He also remarked that the sale of cooking oil at utility stores should be stopped until the apex court is satisfied.

The CJ said the court will rule on the case after a report from the USC's quality control department regarding all oil brands sold in the country is submitted for its review.

The CJ has given ten days' time for the report to be filed.

The USC's counsel was asked where brands like 'Sunny Banaspati', 'Anmol ghee', Shama oil', and 'Raj banaspati' are sold, to which Ramday replied that people from smaller cities like to buy these brands' products.

The CJ also said that a report on testing laboratories and their capacity should also be provided to the Supreme Court.

He noted that the use of substandard oil is a leading cause of heart diseases in young children.

Justice Nisar added that the court will also take action on plastic bottles, plastic pouches and products like ajinomoto salt which are harmful for the human body.

The case has been adjourned for two weeks.