MULTAN, Jul 08 (APP):Punjab Agriculture Department seized counterfeit and expired pesticides worth over Rs 613.3 million during a raid on an illegal manufacturing facility in Multan, arresting two suspects, officials said on Wednesday. The operation was carried out under the standing instructions from Punjab Minister for Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and Secretary Agriculture Iftikhar Ali Sahu as part of the department's ongoing crackdown on fake and substandard agriculture inputs. …
Two arrested with Rs 613m worth fake pesticides during raid at plant
MULTAN, Jul 08 (APP):Punjab Agriculture Department seized counterfeit and expired pesticides worth over Rs 613.3 million during a raid on an illegal manufacturing facility in Multan, arresting two suspects, officials said on Wednesday.
The operation was carried out under the standing instructions from Punjab Minister for Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and Secretary Agriculture Iftikhar Ali Sahu as part of the department’s ongoing crackdown on fake and substandard agriculture inputs.
Director Pest Warning and Quality Control of Pesticides Syed Ismat Bukhari led the operation with his team after receiving information about an illegal factory operating in the Industrial Estate, Multan.
During the raid, officials recovered 11,673 litres and 1,541.6 kilograms of counterfeit and expired pesticides with a total estimated value of Rs 613,335,426.
The factory was allegedly manufacturing and repackaging fake pesticides. The counterfeit products were being filled into new containers and prepared for sale in the market.
The inspection team collected 12 pesticide samples for laboratory analysis, while all seized products were handed over to the police as case property.
Two suspects, Muhammad Arif and Muhammad Mohsin Raza, were arrested during the operation. A prosecution complaint has been filed for registration of a case against them at Muzaffarabad police station, Multan.
Director General Pest Warning and Quality Control of Pesticides Dr. Aamir Rasool and Additional Director General (South Zone) Ilyas Raza commended the raiding team.
