Supreme Court in Pakistan bans Chinese salt "Ajinomoto"

Pakistani apex court has banned the sale, import, and export of Chinese salt widely known as Ajinomoto across the country, calling it "dangerous to health."

The three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar passed the orders while hearing a suo motu over the sale of Ajinomoto and used cooking oil. 

During the hearing of the case, the Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Saeed submitted to the court that he contacted the officials concerned in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the federal government in compliance with bench directions. 

He submitted that to the court that the country's three provinces including eastern Punjab, northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and southern Sindh have already banned the Chinese salt in question.

In January, the Punjab Food Authority had recommended banning the "Chinese salt" after tests found that the condiment was hazardous to its health by its scientific panel.

Having heard all the parties concerned and in view of substantial reports, the bench imposed a ban on the sale and purchase of the salt observing that it was harmful for human consumption. The bench also observed that the prime minister could act independently in the matter.