THIS is with reference to the report ‘SHC dismisses petition against breastfeeding law’ (Dec 8), according to which, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has dismissed a petition challenging the Sindh Protection and Promotion of Breast-Feeding and Young Child Nutrition Act, 2023.

The constitutional petition was filed by five infant formula companies, praying that the legislation negatively impacted their business; the legislation, being a matter of national policy, was enacted without consultation with the stakeholders; and the provincial assembly overstepped its legislative authority in enacting the law in violation of the Constitution.

According to the law, the governor must return a bill along with objections, if any, within 10 days, or it will be passed by the assembly as a piece of legislation. Since the bill had been returned by the governor after 21 days, the court rightly dismissed the petition.

Children in the Tharparkar district of Sindh, in particular, and other districts of Pakistan, in general, are suffering from a serious lack of nutrition. Therefore, both the legislature and executive, being the pillars of the state, should make the matter of child nutrition part of the fundamental rights in the Constitution.

Mohammad Ali Shaikh
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2024