The Sindh High Court (SHC) has summoned Karachi Commissioner Muhammad Iqbal Memon in person on January 4 along with the new notification fixing the milk per-litre price at Rs120, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The SHC on Thursday also sought a report about fixing milk prices in the port city and asked Karachi’s top admin to present the notification as well.
The court sought an explanation over the non-implementation of the 2007 order for not devising the mechanism to set the milk price officially. The administration has submitted a reply on behalf of the Karachi Commissioner, however, the court sought him in person on Jan 4.
Milk retailers’ lawyer Abdul Rehman challenged the official notification arguing it was issued without consultations. He said that the administration did not make any mechanism to set the official price of the milk.
On the other hand, Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association (DCFA) President Shakir Umar Gujjar on behalf of his association also rejected the new notification of the Karachi Commissioner fixing the price of milk at Rs120 per litre.
Karachi administration said that a revised price list was issued in consultation with the wholesalers and retailers.
However, Shakir Gujjar urged authorities that better sense should prevail. He said that the actual price of milk per litre is Rs155 (as per the dairy farms cost) and Rs170 after including the profit of retailers and wholesalers.
“Karachi commissioner’s notification is one-sided and not acceptable for milk sellers and we urged him to review the notification,” he added.
Shakir Gujjar also announced to use all peaceful means of protest and even go to the court of law for the rights of the milk sellers and distributions.
However, Karachiites are buying the milk at Rs140/litre instead of the official price of Rs120/litre.
Reporters Hasan Abbas, Basim