Government converts DPP into NAFSA, but critics warn of ‘old wine in new bottle’

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has officially converted the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) into the National Agri Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA) on August 25, 2025, but exporters and experts warn that this structural change is unlikely to address Pakistan’s chronic export bottlenecks, corruption scandals, and regulatory inefficiencies.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Syed Yawar Ali has been appointed as Chairman of the new Board of NAFSA. Private members include Dr. Farkhanda Manzoor, Dr. Nuzhar Qaiser, Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan, Prof. Dr. Masood Rabbani, Mr. Saram Bukhari, Mr. Mumtaz Muhammad Khan, and Zain Iftikhar Chaudhry. Alongside them, the Board also comprises officials from various federal ministries and divisions, including National Food Security, Commerce, Finance, Law and Justice, Climate Change, Industries and Production, and the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR).
While the government has hailed this step as a move to modernize agricultural trade regulation, critics argue that mere conversion into an authority will not make a difference if the same non-technical and allegedly corrupt officials of the DPP continue to dominate the system. Exporters point out that the DPP had long been plagued with mismanagement from unnecessary shipment delays to bribery scandals which severely dented Pakistan’s export credibility in key markets. They warn that unless the government overhauls the internal culture, brings in professionals with technical expertise, and ensures transparency, NAFSA risks becoming another bureaucratic layer without delivering real reforms.
Insiders reveal that non-technical appointments in crucial inspection and certification roles were one of the root causes of past crises in mango and rice exports. Several cases of delayed inspections, arbitrary rejection of consignments, and accusations of rent-seeking practices were previously reported. “Changing the name from DPP to NAFSA does not remove the officials responsible for years of losses to exporters. Without accountability, the problems will persist,” remarked an exporter.
Experts further add that although the creation of NAFSA fulfills a long-standing bureaucratic demand for an ‘autonomous’ body, the composition of the Board raises concerns, as government officials still form the majority, leaving little room for genuine private-sector influence. Exporters argue that the authority’s mandate will be undermined if its decision-making remains captive to the same bureaucracy.
The notification, while laying out an elaborate governance structure, does not address fundamental problems such as weak enforcement, lack of automation, absence of third-party audits, and limited technical training of inspectors. These issues, exporters say, have repeatedly caused Pakistan to lose credibility in international markets and suffer outright bans on shipments.
Observers believe that unless the government tackles corruption, reforms inspection procedures, and prioritizes competence over connections in key appointments, NAFSA risks becoming “old wine in a new bottle” with no meaningful change for Pakistan’s struggling agricultural exports.