Karachi: In a significant and controversial policy shift, the Government of Pakistan has quietly allowed the import of genetically modified (GMO) soybeans without mandatory local lab testing for verifying presence and absence of approved events as well as treatment—raising serious concerns over food safety, biosecurity, biosafety, and the future of Pakistan’s agriculture.
A recent directive issued by the Director General, National Agritrade and Food Safety Authority (NA&FSA), Mr. Tahir Abbas has removed verification of all phytosanitary import conditions—mandatory inspection, testing of grains for plant pathogens and GMO events, devitalization and disinfestation—prescribed under Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 2019 for handsome deal, insiders in MNFS&R and NA&FSA revealed.
According to the directive, the importer will submit an undertaking to the NA&FSA that if any loss to Pakistan’s agriculture, biosecurity, biosafety, food safety will happen as a result of entry of foreign biosecurity risks, they will be responsible for it. He further directed that incoming consignments will be cleared solely on the basis of certificates issued by the exporting countries. The inspectors were directed by Director General and Director Quarantine not to report any infestation in the cargoes to favour the importers. The Director General asked the importers to give undertaking that they will transport cargoes in closed containers, however, they can transport in vehicles of their own choice and NA&FSA inspectors would not object on it. In country no such number of closed containers are available to transport GMO soybean and canola.
This exemption is not only against local plant quarantine regulations but also against guidelines of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The experts criticized the government that when the federal government will appoint such kinds of non-technical and corrupt heads, Pakistan’s agriculture, natural resources and exports will continue to be vulnerable and suffer.
The decision follows a long campaign by influential oil seeds importers and trade groups to eliminate disinfestation treatment as well as permission of GMO grains without biosafety measures on one or other irrational excuses—delays in cargo release & financial loss— to avoid cost (one rupee per kilogram) on such measures neglecting biosecurity and biosafety of the country. Plant quarantine department under General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) takes around one month for inspection, testing, disinfestation and clearance of GMO grain cargoes with zero dockage and transportation in enclosed containers from port to processing establishments while Pakistani bound cargoes are full of dockage, insects, weed seeds, plant debris, plant pathogens.
The federal government has also suspended former director general, EPA for granting permission of GMO soybean events without appropriate local studies and measures. Currently, more than 10 GMO soybean vessels have been arrived in Pakistan. Neither NA&FSA nor EPA inspectors took samples from any GMO soybean vessel for verifications of approved events in the cargoes by greasing their palms.
Mr. Muhammad Basit, criminal record holder Deputy Director Locust of BS-18 retaining three current charges against posts of Director Pesticides Registration, Director Quarantine and Director Locust without requisite experience against rules is releasing cargoes and containers without testing of GMO events, plant pathogens, weed seeds and plant debris, rather he took samples after disinfestation and sent to Dr. Shakeel, research officer HEJ for testing of germination. Despite disputed repute of Dr. Shakeel Ahmed for giving fit report of unfit betel nut samples and pesticides samples, HEJ reported germination of soybean seed below 20% which openly indicated that Methyl bromide treatment devitalized seeds affecting germination of grains. Further, 20 % germination during lab germination test does not mean that the seeds that showed germination will further grow and reproduce which is called as devitalization.
The experts say the consequences of this policy reversal could be grave and irreversible. The move, they argue, undermines Pakistan’s biosecurity and biosafety along with sovereignty over its food safety protocols and opens the door to widespread foreign pests, GMO penetration, making Pakistan a GMO-recognized country without proper national consultation or scientific vetting and a country having all kinds of pests. Pakistan’s export will invite most rigorous regime of phytosanitary measures from importing partners.
According to an official letter issued on June 27, 2025 with the approval of Mr. Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry, former Secretary, M/oNFS&R addressed to the Director General of the Department of Plant Protection (DPP), the M/oNFS&R formally ordered to withdraw devitalization and disinfestation on arrival in violation of Rule 45 & 47 and 49 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 2019. This move was reportedly made in exchange of handsome carrots.
Mr. Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry cleverly constituted a hand picked technical committee while chairing 62 APTAC meeting in March 2025 in sheer violation of Rule 99A, 99B, of PPQR, 2019 and recommendations of 66th sub-APTAC meeting including corrupt and both non-technical and non-experienced officials from HEJ, Punjab Agriculture Department, PARC, & NA&FSA to get recommendation of his own choice against devitalization and release of cargoes without prescribed disinfestation despite opposition of members from KPK and Balochistan that this matter falls within mandate and jurisdiction of National Biosecurity Technical Committee (NBTC) and National Plant Health Committee (NPHC).
This technical committee earlier recommended banning of 14 pesticides in 62nd APTAC meeting and withdrawal its decision in 63rd APTAC meeting reportedly under deal of millions of rupees with their importers.
It is reportedly said that Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry, Bilal Haider, Joint Secretary and Tahir Abbas have released substandard pesticides namely emamectin benzoate of more than 400 million rupees by changing its unfit report (67%) with fit report (95.1%) by pressurizing Mrs. Ammara Arain, senior chemist in Federal Pesticides Testing & Reference laboratory. These officials also released banned triazophos 85% worth Rs. 150 million just three days expiry of registration which is still pending with NA&FSA. These illegal releases were done by greasing their palms with more than 100 million.
All the above corruption scandals along with sugar scandal led to transfer of Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry. This man is very notorious for corruption, kickbacks and commission. Earlier he was arrested two times by NAB on charges of corruption and remained behind bar for more than 8 months and released benefiting from NAB amendment ordinance.
A senior official from the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), speaking on condition of anonymity, called the move “a clear red line being crossed.” He said, “We are surrendering our food and environmental safety to foreign authorities. There has been no proper debate, no research presented, and no public awareness.”
