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ISLAMABAD, Jul 11 (APP):The Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security & Research, under the chairmanship of Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, visited the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) Head Office in Karachi and reviewed key interventions taken for improving sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) compliance and reducing Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) violations in agricultural exports, particularly rice.
The visit comes as recent reforms, spurred by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, have already led to a marked decline in export interceptions and noticeable improvements in compliance standards, said a press release issued here on Friday.
The committee was briefed in detail by senior DPP officials, including Tahir Abbas (Director General DPP), Dr Muhammad Ishfaque (Deputy Director Quarantine) and Muhammad Basit (Director Quarantine), on the measures taken to align Pakistan’s export framework with international food safety and plant protection standards.
The committee noted the significant strides made in improving compliance, especially in light of the Prime Minister’s decisive directives issued in December 2024, which called for legal action against negligent officers and the immediate establishment of pesticide residue testing laboratories.
These directives have shown concrete results. In 2023, Pakistan faced 61 interceptions of rice consignments by the European Union due to MRL exceedances and aflatoxins. The number rose to 106 in 2024, with 73 linked directly to pesticide residues.
However, following the reforms triggered by the Prime Minister’s orders, 2025 has seen a notable decline, with only 30 interceptions recorded so far just 13 related to MRLs and 15 to aflatoxins. This decline is attributed to intensified monitoring, awareness campaigns for exporters, and closer coordination between DPP, provincial departments, and industry stakeholders.
Notably, pesticides such as Acetamiprid, Chlorpyrifos, Imidacloprid, and Thiamethoxam were identified as primary contributors to MRL breaches.
The committee also discussed progress in the maize sector. Maize is Pakistan’s third major food grain, with 10.634 million tons produced annually across 1.72 million hectares. In 2023–24, exports peaked at 1.837 million metric tons but sharply declined in 2024–25 to just over 786,000 metric tons.
While high domestic prices contributed to this drop, phytosanitary interceptions by Vietnam due to infestation by Trogoderma granarium (khapra beetle) also played a role. Following Vietnam’s third warning and 72 reported interceptions, DPP imposed a temporary two-week export ban and suspended responsible fumigators. Corrective actions such as the registration of 63 compliant storage godowns, traceability protocols, and pest-specific fumigation SOPs were implemented.
Additional efforts included stakeholder meetings, strict inspection regimes, and strict control over the use of jute bags — a major source of infestation.
The committee turned its attention to mango exports, with special emphasis on high-end markets such as Japan, Korea, and the U.S., which have strict protocols including Hot Water Treatment (HWT) and Vapor heat treatment, among others.
While the DPP has developed SOPs and installed CCTV surveillance systems for monitoring HWT facilities, the Chairman raised concerns over operational irregularities. He cited credible complaints from exporters regarding malfunctioning cameras, non-operational HWT equipment and allegations of corruption including unauthorized facilitation of certain plants and officials allegedly accepting payment per kilogram to bypass treatment procedures.
One major exporter reportedly experienced a drop in mango exports from 40,000 kilograms to just 7,000 this season, attributing the decline to inconsistent enforcement and preferential treatment by DPP inspectors.
The committee emphasized the importance of appointing a technically qualified and permanent Director General at DPP to build on the momentum of recent improvements.
The committee reiterated support for the early establishment of the National Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Authority (NAFSA), the release of funds for new laboratories, and amendment of fumigation rules in light of current export requirements.
The chairman concluded by acknowledging the encouraging results achieved so far under the Prime Minister’s reform roadmap and called for continued political will and institutional commitment.
He emphasized that while the number of export rejections has declined, sustained oversight, transparency, and scientific leadership are key to ensuring that Pakistan’s agricultural exports regain trust and competitiveness in global markets.
The meeting was also attended by Senator Rahat Jamali, Dost Muhammad Khan, and Abdul Wasay. However, the committee noted with disappointment the absence of officials from the Ministry of National Food Security & Research and instructed that a letter be written to the Chairman Senate, requesting appropriate action against absent ministry officials, reiterating the need for full cooperation from the Ministry in matters of national importance.