PESHAWAR/KARACHI: In pursuance of a Supreme Court order, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh governments have banned the trade related to Chinese salt commonly known as Ajinomoto due to its “hazardous effects on human health” following the decision of the Punjab government which last month made the same move on recommendation of the Punjab Food Authority.

A statement issued in Peshawar on Wednesday said chief secretary Mohammad Azam Khan had directed the administrative heads of all the districts to immediately initiate action against the manufacture, sale and import of Chinese salt in their respective jurisdictions. It said additional chief secretary Fata had also been directed to carry out a similar campaign in all the agencies of the tribal region.

Meanwhile, a notification issued by the Sindh home department called for “immediate” ban on sale of Ajinomoto under Section 144 of CrPC across the province. It said the import, production and sale of Ajinomoto were banned for safety of human health.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2018