ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has lost an estimated Rs594 billion worth of wheat flour since 2017 because of the government’s failure to enforce mandatory packaging regulations, industry representatives have warned.
In a recent letter addressed to Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, the Pakistan Polypropylene Woven Sack Manufacturers Association (PPWSMA) reiterated its demand for the strict implementation of Gazetted Notification S.R.O. 46(KE)/2017. Issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology in May 2017, the law requires food-grade, recyclable polypropylene sacks for flour packaging.
Despite being in effect for eight years, the regulation has largely been ignored, leading to massive flour losses due to “dusting” and seepage from low-quality sacks. The association estimates that in the 2025–26 season alone, an additional Rs67.2 billion worth of flour could go to waste if the issue remains unresolved.
The group highlighted the devastating impact of this wastage on a population already struggling with food insecurity. Citing Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data, the PPWSMA noted that 11 million Pakistanis are facing acute food insecurity, with many households relying on just one simple meal a day.
Association Chairman Iskander M. Khan said the 5% flour loss from poor packaging amounts to 896,000 tons—requiring 750,000 acres of cultivated land and more than 1 billion cubic feet of water, all wasted. He added that while food-grade sacks cost only slightly more (around Rs8 extra for a 20kg bag), they preserve flour worth Rs75 per bag, making them economically viable as well as safer for consumers.
The association also raised serious health concerns, alleging that many non-food-grade sacks are made from contaminated materials such as hospital waste and used batteries, posing risks to public health.
In a separate letter to Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, the association expressed frustration over the lack of action despite repeated appeals. “The non-enforcement of this law is depriving people of their staple food and worsening the hunger crisis,” Khan warned.
Industry leaders have urged the government to enforce S.R.O. 46(KE)/2017 immediately to prevent further financial, environmental, and health-related damage.
