Pakistan’s cosmetics industry could face tighter oversight after a Senate panel approved legislation seeking to regulate manufacturing, imports and sales.
The Senate Committee on Science and Technology approved the Pakistan General Cosmetics Bill after detailed deliberations on Wednesday.
During the meeting, Minister for Defence Production Raza Hayat Harraj raised serious concerns about substandard fairness creams.
He said these products were among the major causes of cancer in the country, while also highlighting mercury use.
The committee also approved legislation restricting the sale of energy drinks to children under 18 in Islamabad’s educational institutions.
Senate Panel Approves Pakistan General Cosmetics Bill
The committee, chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha, approved the Pakistan General Cosmetics Bill following detailed discussions on its provisions.
The proposed legislation seeks to establish a regulatory authority responsible for overseeing the country’s cosmetics industry.
The authority would regulate the manufacture, import and sale of cosmetic products, including fairness creams.
Harraj said Pakistan currently lacked effective controls over cosmetics, creating concerns about product quality and consumer safety.
He also pointed to the use of mercury in cosmetic products, which he presented as another issue requiring regulatory attention.
According to the minister, the absence of proper legislation and standards has also prevented Pakistani cosmetics from entering export markets.
He said stronger regulation could instead help develop the country’s cosmetics industry and establish a more organised domestic market.
Minister Raises Concerns Over Fairness Creams
Fairness creams received particular attention during the committee’s discussion because of concerns surrounding the quality of products available in Pakistan.
Harraj said substandard fairness creams were among the major causes of cancer in the country.
He also highlighted mercury use in cosmetics while discussing the need for stronger oversight across the industry.
However, the minister’s comments formed part of the committee’s broader discussion about regulating cosmetics through dedicated legislation.
The proposed framework would cover locally manufactured products as well as cosmetics brought into Pakistan through imports.
As a result, manufacturers and importers would come under a formal regulatory system once the legislation takes effect.
Chichawatni Identified as Major Cosmetics Manufacturing Centre
Harraj also discussed the growing scale of cosmetics manufacturing in different parts of the country.
He said Chichawatni had emerged as a major centre for cosmetics manufacturing, with producers earning billions of rupees through the business.
The minister further said large quantities of cosmetics were being brought into Pakistan from abroad and sold at major stores.
Under the proposed legislation, imported cosmetics would have to enter the country after payment of applicable duties.
This measure would bring imported products within the broader regulatory framework being considered for the cosmetics industry.
At the same time, the government hopes stronger standards could improve the quality and credibility of locally produced cosmetics.
Committee Approves Energy Drink Restrictions
The Senate committee also approved legislation aimed at restricting the sale of energy drinks to children under 18.
The proposed restriction would apply specifically to educational institutions located in the federal capital.
Violators could face fines of up to Rs100,000 under the proposed legislation.
The decision came during the same committee meeting that considered the broader regulatory framework for cosmetics.
Therefore, lawmakers addressed two separate consumer-related issues involving products available to young people and the wider public.
New Cosmetics Rules Could Transform the Industry
The proposed cosmetics legislation seeks to address long-standing concerns over weak regulation within Pakistan’s cosmetics market.
Harraj argued that stronger oversight could help control product quality while creating opportunities for the industry to expand.
The legislation would establish a regulatory authority with responsibility for monitoring manufacturing, imports and sales across the sector.
It could also provide a formal framework for dealing with products containing substances that raise safety concerns.
Meanwhile, the government believes improved standards could help Pakistani cosmetics gain access to international markets.
For now, the committee’s approval represents an important step toward establishing formal regulation of Pakistan’s cosmetics industry.
The final impact will depend on the legislation’s remaining parliamentary process and the regulatory framework ultimately established under the proposed law.
