PM’s abrupt order leaves ministry & DPP in an awkward spot
KARACHI: In a shocking turn of events, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) has withheld the training and appointments of 50 newly selected entomologists in the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) just days after their recruitment. The move follows direct orders from Prime Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif, who reportedly expressed strong disapproval of the recruitment process.
According to a report appeared in an English daily, the entomologists—recruited on a contract basis for 50 vacant positions in the DPP, the official National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Pakistan, through open newspaper advertisements to address the shortage of qualified officers—were sent home after just two days of training under CABI resources in Islamabad. Their sudden dismissal not only shocked the recruits but also left MNFSR and DPP officials scrambling for explanations.
Background of the recruitment drive
During the tenure of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, 100 posts for entomologists were created in response to the National Locust Emergency of 2019 and 2020. These positions, meant to strengthen the DPP, were filled on a contractual basis to comply with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The DPP was originally established at the time of partition, modeled after the British-era Department of Plant Protection in India, to regulate the import and export of agricultural commodities under the Destructive Insect Pest Act, 1914. Pakistan formally adhered to the IPPC on November 10, 1954, and subsequently designated the DPP as the official NPPO. Over the years, various amendments were made, including the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Act of 1976 and the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules of 2019, which were last updated on August 23, 2024.
Abrupt dismissal after two days of training
The 50 contractual positions were advertised in January 2025 to address the severe shortage of technical officials at Pakistan’s seaports, airports, and border terminals. This was part of an initiative by MNFSR to restructure the DPP and enhance its efficiency. A female section officer suggested to Secretary MNFSR, Mr. Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry, that these vacancies had arisen due to the departure of contractual officers over the past three years. Since the Finance Department had not sanctioned a budget for these 46 posts, fresh approval and supplementary funding were required.
However, Bilal Haider, Joint Secretary (Admin) of MNFSR, advised moving forward with recruitment, arguing that approval could be sought later due to the pressing need to prevent the entry and spread of foreign pests in Pakistan and safeguard domestic agriculture, public health, and natural resources. Secretary Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry approved the proposal, and tests and interviews were conducted, culminating in appointments last month. The recruits received their appointment letters and were summoned to Islamabad for a week-long training program conducted by the CABI Academy.
Each recruit initially received Rs. 3,500, along with accommodations and meals. However, on the second day of training, officials abruptly informed them that the program was being halted. Neither Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry nor Bilal Haider disclosed any reasons. Even CABI, the training organizer, reportedly compensated each employee with Rs. 7,000 before shutting down the program.
Why were the recruitments scrapped?
Sources indicate that PM Shahbaz Sharif ordered the abrupt cancellation of training and appointments due to concerns over the recruitment process. The hiring was allegedly influenced by certain DPP officials and a London-based clearing agent, Israr Khan.
The recruitment team, led by Tahir Abbas (Customs Officer), Bilal Haider (JS), Dr. Muhammad Basit (Director, Technical Quarantine), and officials from the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), was accused of handpicking candidates and violating merit-based selection in collaboration with Israr Khan.
Israr Khan, reportedly involved in human smuggling, is said to have misused his influence by repeatedly filing false complaints against DPP officials. His complaints were previously investigated and dismissed by various government agencies, but he allegedly continued to pressure authorities by exploiting his connections.
Ministry’s credibility in question
This fiasco raises serious concerns about the efficiency and integrity of MNFSR’s recruitment practices. The DPP had initially presented these recruitments as part of a broader initiative to strengthen plant quarantine and pre-shipment measures nationwide. The newly recruited entomologists were meant to be deployed across Pakistan’s ports to prevent the entry of exotic pests and ensure phytosanitary compliance for both import and export commodities.
Under their contracts, the recruits were entitled to a monthly salary of Rs. 90,000, with possible increments. Eligibility criteria included a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Entomology, Plant Protection, or Plant Pathology from an HEC-recognized university, with a maximum age limit of 30 years (relaxable by five years for specific applicants).
It is alleged that Israr Khan orchestrated a campaign against DPP, repeatedly submitting fabricated complaints to MNFSR, FIA, and the Prime Minister’s Office. In 2022, he reportedly influenced an inquiry against DPP senior directors through Azam Khan (former Principal Secretary) and Moeed Yusuf (former National Security Adviser). This resulted in an inquiry led by Rashid Langrial, then Additional Secretary, which was allegedly based on false testimonies from corrupt officials, Dr. Muhammad Basit and Umar Farooq, who were later jailed for accepting a Rs. 16 million bribe to release infested GMO soybean cargo.
Despite these allegations being disproven in a subsequent 2023 inquiry led by Secretary Zafar Hassan, Israr Khan continued using Langrial’s report to malign DPP officials and influence senior government officials.
Future of DPP and policy implications
The controversy has fueled discussions over the proposed restructuring of DPP into a corporate authority, a move strongly backed by bureaucrats Rashid Langrial and Asad Rehman Gilani (former Secretary to the Prime Minister). However, critics argue that converting DPP into a corporate body could jeopardize Pakistan’s international obligations under IPPC Article IV, which mandates that National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) must be run by government officials with expertise in insect identification and phytosanitary certification.
Concerns have also been raised that a corporate-run DPP could facilitate unchecked imports without proper quarantine measures, thereby endangering Pakistan’s agricultural exports and food security.
With this sudden reversal, the ministry now faces tough questions about its handling of the recruitment process—and whether such blunders will impact future efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s agricultural sector. The restructuring proposal and allegations of undue influence are expected to remain in the spotlight, prompting calls for a transparent review of MNFSR’s policies and hiring practices.
