Islamabad: After a short rest period, rice exports in Pakistan stopped again due to the incompetence of the Plant Protection Department (DPP). Sources claim that non -technical officials have been appointed to major positions, which leads to a severe delay in issuing the requirements for export. As a result, they were cut off shipments in the ports, creating the neck of the main bottle of this industry.
The Rice Exporters Association in Pakistan has expressed serious concerns about the turmoil and called for an urgent meeting to address this issue. The association urged its members to provide details of the hanging health certificates, including the details of the shipment and the destination countries. ReAP pledged to escalate the upper authorities, in an effort to obtain immediate intervention.
According to the sources, a customs official has been appointed who has no previous experience in food and quarantine safety as a general manager of DPP. In addition, controversial and non -experienced novice employees were placed in major roles, which hindered the administration’s ability to address export certificates efficiently.
Interestingly, most technical experts who have related qualifications are either marginalized, suspended or removed under the pretext of internal inquiries. This reinstalling strongly affected DPP’s efficiency, which led to an increase in the refusal of shipping by the European Union (EU), Russia and Uzbekistan due to pollution issues such as the limits of maximum remnants (MRL), flavatoxin, and the presence of pests.
Violent reaction from international markets:
Pakistan continues to face auditing from the main export markets. Reports indicate that both Russia and Uzbekistan have expressed his dissatisfaction with the purification of contaminated Keno shipments, with a warning of possible import restrictions on Pakistani agricultural products.
A customs source, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that a customs employee had previously been postponed for promotion due to the alleged integrity fears, as a technical director at DPP.
He obtained this position because of his close relationship with a senior official in the Ministry of Security and National Research (MNFSR). This date has led sharp criticism, as the assigned official lacks the technical expertise required for this role.
In addition to the controversy, Dr. Mohamed Bastet, an officer from the BS-18 who faces corruption charges, was granted double charges as a warship manager (BS-19) and the director registration for pesticides (BS-19) without legal authority.
It was previously suspended and involved in the corruption case (FIA KARACHI FIR No. 2/2019 claiming that it was accepted with a bribe of 16 million PKR to wipe the affected soybean shipment. His appointment raised serious concerns in this industry, with allegations of collusion between DPP officials and importers/private exporters.
Sources face serious consequences:
Sources claim that DPP inefficiency now threatens the broader agricultural trade in the country, as a possible ban on citrus and potatoes exports to Russia and Uzbekistan. While Minister Mnfsr had previously directed the publication of qualified officers in the ports, the DPP leadership instead appointed a favorite of blue eyes, many of whom are associated with previous corruption cases.
Moreover, non -caffeine inspection staff in ports exacerbated the delay, forcing the exporters to wait indefinitely or engage in deals under the table to accelerate the treatment. Opinioners suggest that some DPP writers and novice officials are demanding bribes to remove files, which highlights the deep inception of management.
What after agricultural exports in Pakistan?
DPP mismanagement not only affects rice exports, but also threatens the broader agricultural sector, including fresh fruits and vegetables. If immediate corrective measures are not taken, Pakistan may face more strict import conditions and possible restrictions from the main international markets, and deal with a major blow to the economy that is already struggling in the country.
With the presence of the RAP and the other stakeholders who express their fears actively, all eyes are on the government to take decisive measures.
