Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul has announced that the federal government will soon be taking action against manufacturers of substandard fairness creams.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Zartaj said that cosmetic companies had been adding “excessive” amounts of mercury into their products, especially these creams, which made them extremely dangerous.
Calling out these cosmetic companies, Gul said these manufacturers were bent upon “peeling our skin off to whiten it.” She added, “Humain apnay kaalay aur sanwalay honay per bohat fakhar hai. Humain complex ka shikar na banayen zabardasti chita kar kar kay.”
“You play with our skins through these creams you sell for 10 rupees,” the minister continued, adding that both boys and girls fall prey to these creams.
Gul said the government had assessed around 57 local and international products and only three of them were found to have met the standards.
Gul stated that the legislation regarding this will hopefully be drafted by December 31.
Fairness creams have often been the subject of debate in Pakistan. In recent year, people have begun to call a ban on them due to their harmful contents. Sajal Aly and Mawra Hocane, who have endorsed these products, have also received a lot of backlash for promoting them.
