KARACHI: An appellate bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) on Thursday sent a well known betel nut product for a laboratory test seeking a report on or before April 10.
The bench was hearing a petition filed by One Bilqis Bano, owner of Jaker Products, SITE Karachi in which Federal Commerce Secretary, Chairman FBR, Director (TP), Secretary, Ministry of Food Security & Research, Director General Plant Protection, Collector Customs MCC East, West and Collector Appraisement were cited as respondents.
The petitioner maintained that they are producing and marketing “Sanam Gold Sweet Supari” since a decade. The petitioner challenged SRO 1067 of 2017 issued under sub section (1) of Section 3 of Imports and Exports Control 1950 under which Import Policy was amended restricting import of “Areca Nuts”.
The petitioner claimed that consignments imported by her are free from pests and diseases. The bench however hearing the counsel for petitioner and counsel for Pakistan Customs while observing that foremost issue in this case is that whether the imported item is fit for human consumption or not. The bench with the above observation ordered that a sample drawn from the consignments in dispute be sent for a laboratory test.
The bench sought the test report on or before April 10 while fixing April 10 as next date of hearing.