Two arrested in raid at pesticides unit, fake pesticides valuing Rs 67m seized

MULTAN, Jul 10 (APP): In compliance with standing instructions from provincial authorities, a team of agriculture department conducted raid on an illegal facility and seized fake agricultural chemicals worth over Rs 67.08 million in Multan.

According to an official release issued here Friday, the action was carried out on the directives of Punjab minister for agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and secretary agriculture Iftikhar Ali Sahoo.

The raid was conducted by the Pest Warning and Quality Control of Pesticides wing under the supervision of it’s DG Dr Aamir Rasool and additional DG (South) Ilyas Raza. Deputy director Dr Abdul Rauf led the operation at an illegal warehouse and packing plant located at Plot No. 62-A, Industrial Estate, Multan.

Officials recovered 7,131.2 litres and 2,521.24 kilograms of counterfeit and expired pesticides with a total estimated value of Rs 67,084,250.

The department said expired pesticides were allegedly being repackaged into new containers with fresh labels before being prepared for sale in the market.

The inspection team collected 13 samples of different pesticide products for laboratory analysis, while all seized chemicals were handed over to the police as case property.

 Agriculture department has filed a complaint against Harish Kumar, the owner of United Super Crops, and Taimoor Ali, the store in-charge, under the relevant provisions of the Punjab Pesticides Ordinance, 1971, for registration of a case at Muzaffarabad police station, Multan.

A spokesman for the Punjab agriculture department said strict action against those involved in the manufacture and sale of counterfeit and expired pesticides would continue without discrimination under the government’s zero-tolerance policy to safeguard farmers’ interests.