PKMT launches campaign against Corporate Control of Dairy and Livestock Sector in Pakistan.

Byline: Adeel Alvi

SHIKARPUR -- Pakistan Kissan Mazdoor Tehreek (PKMT) in connection with the International Working Women's Day has launched 'Save our Invaluable Rural Assets Campaign against Corporate Control of Dairy and Livestock Sector in Pakistan.' The campaign objectives are to resist the government-imposed regulations on natural pure milk, as well as the increasing trade liberalization and control of the corporations in the sector. The campaign will also spread awareness amongst the farming community and the masses to stand up against the attack on their food, livelihood and the environment. The Punjab and Sindh Food Authorities have intensified law making and regulations in the dairy sector. The Punjab and Sindh Food Authorities have released the Pure Food Regulations 2018. The Punjab Government has been making statements stressing total ban of natural pure open milk in Lahore to gradually increase the spread to other parts of Punjab. According to these regulations, natural pure open milk can only be sold after pasteurization. Further, those businesses which produce and sell milk, or milk products have to get government licenses. What forces and groups are behind these regulations? These regulations are based on the mandatory requirements of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Mechanisms and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) agreements of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that were pushed by mega-international corporations in the dairy and livestock sector. No doubt, regulations in Pakistan are being imposed on the behest of these very corporations. The value-added production and sale of milk and various dairy products such as butter, cheese, yogurt among other products is carried out by these monopoly corporations, earning them enormous profits. It is very important to...