Ministry fails to curb corruption in DPP amidst allegations of fraudulent appointments

KARACHI: The Ministry of National Food Security & Research has failed to address rampant corruption and fraudulent appointments within the Department of Plant Protection (DPP), soon expected to be the National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA). Secretary Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry has been criticized for appointing non-technical officials to key positions, including Tahir Abbas, a deputy collector of customs, as Director General, despite his deferred promotion due to integrity concerns.
Among the most alarming issues is the alleged misuse of Karachi quota vacancies through fake domiciles and fraudulent credentials. Sources reveal that Imran Ali, originally from Khanewal, secured a position as Naib Qasid in DPP using a forged domicile from District Malir, Karachi. His brother, Allah Yar, initially appointed as a laboratory assistant in 1995, allegedly engaged in corruption by manipulating pesticide sample results for bribes. Despite facing multiple complaints, he maneuvered his way into the Federal Pesticides Reference Testing Laboratory (FPRTL) Karachi, further expanding his illicit activities.
Reports indicate that Allah Yar and Imran Ali built connections with criminal elements in Karachi, engaging in bribery, document forgery, and fraudulent promotions. Imran Ali was illegally promoted to Junior Clerk in 2022 with the assistance of Dr. Muhammad Basit, Deputy Director at DPP, who allegedly obstructed investigations into their forged documents.
Official records show discrepancies in Imran Ali’s domicile, which lists an address in District Korangi while being issued from District Malir. The Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Malir, confirmed no such domicile was issued in 2015. Despite this, he was promoted and placed in the registration section, where he allegedly collected bribes via mobile money transfers for processing pesticide and quarantine files.
Suspended previously on corruption charges, both brothers managed to regain their positions with Dr. Basit’s intervention. Sources allege that Dr. Basit himself has a history of corruption, including his involvement in releasing an infested soybean vessel in exchange for a Rs. 16 million bribe, as per FIA records. Arrested and jailed for four months, Basit reportedly relied on pesticide companies and clearing agents for legal and financial support. Another FIR was registered against him in Bahawalpur for misconduct with police.
Further investigations reveal that the brothers amassed significant wealth, owning multiple properties, a water filtration plant, and rental businesses, despite their modest backgrounds. FIA, the Anti-Corruption Cell (ACC), and the Cyber Crime Cell (CCC) have launched inquiries into their activities, including allegations of bribery, document forgery, and financial misappropriation.
Despite clear evidence, no official verification of their documents has been conducted, reportedly due to their high-level connections within the ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office. Meanwhile, other lower-level employees have been scapegoated to cover up their fraudulent activities.
The parents of qualified entomologists have appealed to the Prime Minister for immediate intervention, urging strict action against corrupt officials and verification of their credentials under government supervision. A decisive FIA crackdown is anticipated to finally address these longstanding corrupt practices within DPP.