LAHORE, Sept 12: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday sought a reply from the Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) for Oct 17 on a petition by the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) for banning the sale of Indian sugar that was “substandard and unfit for human consumption.”

The PSMA’s counsel, Chaudhry Fawad Husain, told court that the Indian sugar was being imported despite the fact that the PCSIR laboratory had declared the presence of 30 mg/kg sulphur in it in the past.

“Consumption of this sugar can cause blood-related diseases and damage the vital organs of the body,” he said.

The counsel said the trade policy clearly laid down that the import of goods should be subject to same quality standards required in respect of similarly domestically-produced goods. Since Pakistan was the only country producing A-class white sugar, all imported sugar should meet the same standard.

The petitioner prayed that directions should be issued to the PSQCA, the PCSIR laboratory and the trade ministry to ensure the implementation of trade policy and quality of imported sugar.

He further prayed court to restrain authorities concerned from dubbing B-class sugar as refined sugar.