Crackdown on Plastic Eggs being Sold in Pakistan

Police officers in Karachi have launched an investigation after they arrested a shopkeeper and eggs supplier for selling plastic eggs.

Darakhshan SHO Azam Gopang explained that a resident of Khayaban-e-Seher had registered a complaint, stating that the eggs he had purchased turned out to be made of a “plastic-like substance”.

Officers subsequently raided the shop and arrested the owner, Jameel Khan. They also seized several egg crates.

SHO Gopang said that the police have contacted the Sindh Food Authority (SFA) to provide an insight into the bizarre discovery.

The SFA sent some of the eggs to a laboratory for testing.

A spokesperson said that the eggs looked to be made of plastic but the laboratory report would determine the contents.

A case was registered against Khan and he appeared before the court.

Police believed he would be remanded in custody, however, the court was ordered to release Khan after someone paid the Rs. 10,000 (£49) bail bond.

During the hearing, an investigating officer maintained that Khan was arrested after the plastic eggs were recovered from his shop.

The officer had told the court:

“We are investigating where he got the eggs from and who are manufacturing and supplying these goods in the city.”

Meanwhile, Khan claimed that the eggs were not bought from his shop.

Prior to his appearance in court, Khan told officers the names of the suppliers. This led to the arrests of Sufyan, Razzak and an unnamed associate at a farmhouse where the eggs were being made.

A vehicle containing 35 crates of the plastic eggs was also seized.

SSP Suhai Aziz said that they will be sent to the laboratory to confirm if they are fake eggs.

SFA Deputy Director of Operations Samira Hussain explained that the complainant said that the eggs became deformed when they were boiled.

SFA officials briefly tested the eggs by placing them in sunlight, after which they disfigured into a jelly-like form.

Over the course of the initial investigation, the shop received another 100 crates of eggs which appeared to be fake.

According to Ms Hussain, the SFA previously received similar complaints.

The eggs had been supplied from the city of Gharo. Ms Hussain said that all areas where eggs are being supplied will be inspected.

The Tribune reported that the contents of the plastic eggs mix together as soon as they are broken while real eggs do not mix naturally.

They also have a shiny exterior while real eggs do not.