PCSIR Finds 176 of 491 Samples Below National Standards
More than one-third of packaged cooking oil, vegetable fat and milk samples tested across Pakistan failed to meet national quality standards.
The Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research tested 491 samples of commonly consumed packaged food products.
Of the total, 315 samples met prescribed standards.
However, 176 samples failed laboratory requirements.
This represents a non-compliance rate of approximately 36 percent.
The findings were presented during a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal chaired the meeting.
The assessment was conducted on his directions to scientifically evaluate the quality of commonly consumed food products.
The Ministry of Science and Technology presented the findings through PCSIR.
The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority prepared the consolidated report for policy consideration.
The results showed particularly high failure rates in several product categories.
Among 204 samples of packaged vegetable fat, 98 failed to meet required standards.
Out of 146 blended cooking oil samples, 40 were found non-compliant.
PCSIR also tested 104 packaged liquid milk samples. Twenty-six failed the prescribed specifications.
Eight of 18 milk powder samples also failed testing.
Three out of four refined palm oil samples did not conform to required standards.
One of 13 refined canola oil samples also failed.
Nationwide Survey Ordered for Unpackaged Food Products
Ahsan Iqbal expressed serious concern over the findings.
He linked the issue to wider public health concerns, including the increasing incidence of cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases.
The minister particularly highlighted growing health risks among younger people.
He directed provincial governments, regional administrations and relevant regulators to conduct a nationwide assessment of unpackaged cooking oil, vegetable fat and milk.
The survey will examine products sold without branded or sealed packaging.
Authorities have been asked to determine whether similar quality problems exist in local markets.
The government also formed a specialised technical subcommittee to examine the laboratory findings in greater detail.
The panel will include experts from the Ministry of Planning, PCSIR and PSQCA.
It will review the scientific evidence and prepare recommendations for possible regulatory and policy action.
The recommendations could determine whether stronger testing, enforcement or product monitoring measures are required.
Inflation Falls to 9.2% as Government Reviews Price Gaps
The National Price Monitoring Committee also reviewed Pakistan’s latest inflation figures.
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics informed the meeting that headline inflation declined to 9.2 percent in July 2026.
Inflation stood at 11.1 percent during the previous month.
Officials said the decline indicated an easing of overall inflationary pressure.
However, several essential goods and services continued to increase household costs.
Natural gas remained the largest contributor to inflation.
Housing costs, wheat flour, fresh milk and petrol also continued to place upward pressure on consumer prices.
The committee additionally raised concerns about major differences between wholesale and retail prices in different cities.
Ahsan Iqbal said consumers were often paying significantly different prices for identical products despite similar supply sources.
He directed provincial governments and district administrations to investigate the causes of these differences.
Authorities were asked to recommend measures to reduce excessive wholesale-retail price gaps.
The minister also called for greater market transparency and stronger enforcement to ensure essential goods are available at fair prices.
