KARACHI: The Department of Plant Protection (DPP), operating under the Ministry of National Food Security & Research, has issued an office order transferring multiple officials to critical positions. However, the reshuffle, dated December 18, 2024, has raised serious concerns over allegations that some of the transferred employees have prior criminal records and these transfers have been made allegedly on the complaints of a London based fumigator, who reportedly is a terminated government employ for forgery of official documents in KPK.
Approved by the newly appointed Plant Protection Adviser and the Director General of DPP on additional Charge for three months, Mr. Waqas Alam, BS-20 of PAS group and General Manager PASCO, the order assigns personnel to sensitive roles, including the Plant Quarantine Station (PQ Station) at the Seaport. The appointments are now under scrutiny for their potential to undermine departmental integrity and accountability.
Details of the Transfers
According to the office order, Mr. Muhammad Aqeed Mehdi (Entomologist) has been transferred from PQ Station Export Section to DPP Seaport Office as Incharge against Miss Tahir Talib that has been transferred in DPP Office Islamabad. Recently, both officers were transferred from P&D Section and Quarantine Section to Seaport officer in order to fulfil worst shortage of qualified staff at Karachi ports.
Mr. Muhammad Umer (Entomologist) was transferred from Outpost Mirpurkhas to PQ Station Seaport, HQ, Karachi while Mr. Hafiz M. Zohaib (Entomologist) was transferred from Torkham Border to Outpost Mirpurkhas. Mr. Muhammad Umer was recently transferred from Quarantine Section to Mirpurkhas on corruption allegations and collection of money for a director (Qasim Khan Kakar) by holding meeting with the clearing agents and fumigators at Rest House of the DPP, insiders claim.
Mr. Amjadullah (Entomologist) from Kharlachi to Quarantine Section, HQ, Karachi. Mr. Muhammad Toufeeq (Entomologist) from DPP Outpost Lahore to Quarantine Section, HQ. Mr. Shoaib Nawaz (Entomologist) from JIAP Cargo, DPP to PQ Station Seaport, HQ, Karachi, Mr. Suresh Kumar (Entomologist) from DPP Outpost Bahawalpur to PQ Station Seaport, HQ, Karachi, Mr. Muhammad Salman (Entomologist) from PQ Station Seaport to DPP Outpost Lahore, Mr. Faisal Shahzad (Entomologist) from Ghulam Khan Ada to DPP Outpost Bahawalpur, Ms. Urwa-Tul- Wusqa (Entomologist) from PQ Station Seaport, HQ, Karachi, to FPTRL, HQ., and Mr. Muhammad Maqsood (Entomologist) from PQ Station Seaport, HQ, Karachi, to JIAP Cargo, DPP have been transferred and posted.
Mr. Muhammad Waseem (Aviation Cleaner) that was transferred from AW. Hanger, DPP, Karachi, to PQ Station Seaport, HQ, Karachi that was earlier transferred from data to its relevant section for cleaning the planes and on charges of corruption. According to insiders Mr. Waseem has been collecting speed monthly from the clearing agents and fumigators along with Mr. Rashid Siraj, forced retired non-technical Assistant Entomologists since 2009. He has been privately hired by Mr. Rashid Siraj to compile fumigation data of fumigators and to collect bribe. His salary has been paid by M/s Adeel Pesticides, Pentagon fumigation Services, Javid Fumigation Services, Tahir Fumigation Services prior its induction in the DPP on the recommendation of the Rashid Siraj.
Sources within the DPP revealed that Miss Tahira Talib, Entomologist, a honest officer has been made scapegoat to halt a scheduled press conference of the REAP against the unlawful action of the government against the rice exporters and authorized officers of the DPP on the recommendation of their blue eyed non-technical retired bureaucrats and some advisers that has made mockery of Pakistan Plant Quarantine and Food Safety System in the world because refused to issue the phytosanitary certificates to export consignments exempted compliance procedure despite instruction from the newly appointed Director General, Mr. Waqas Alam and Secretary, MNFSR that phytosanitary certificate should be issued to rice exporters as these were being issued in the past.
Already 17 officers of the DPP are in jail custody on issuing phytosanitary certificates to EU bound rice shipments without adopting requisite procedure and requiring lab reports from the exporters. However, the government and MNFSR did not name exporters and SGS in FIR registered in FIA ACC, Karachi for their alleged involvements in securing phytosanitary certificates without procedure and on the basis of fake and forged reports that led to interception of rice shipments at EU ports with Aflatoxin, MRL, Heavy Metal, GMO and Mineral Oil to avoid their protest against their unlawful action Further, food safety was not mandate given to the DPP by the Federal government. All this mess occurred due to incompetency of the non-technical bureaucrats. Further, the MoC and MNFSR has permitted rice exporters to conduct compliance procedure by their own bypassing Rule 62 to 64 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 2019 and SRO 1291(1)/2024 dated 23 August 2024. The enquiry committee has kept hidden all these facts from the Prime Minister to settle score with the DPP officers because the officers in the enquiry committee had been asking favours in the past for their favourite importers and exporters and fumigators and treatment plants.
Key Concerns
The most alarming aspect of the transfers is the alleged inclusion of employees with questionable records in strategic roles. These positions, particularly at the PQ Station Seaport, involve crucial responsibilities such as monitoring imported and exported agricultural goods.
Critics within the department claim that assigning individuals with alleged criminal histories to high-stakes positions belong to Dr. Qasim Khan Kakar and Israr Khan lobby and could facilitate corruption, particularly in areas involving certifications, pesticide approvals, and inspections bypassing compliance procedure.
An official of the DPP revealed on anonymity, Dr. Qasim Khan Kakar, a deputationist from Balochistan Agriculture department, has unlawfully occupied rest house of the DPP and is also drawing house rent in its salary. They claim about unethical activities also being held in the rest house. The MNFSR has surrendered its services to its parent Department i.e., Agriculture Research Institute, Agriculture and Cooperative Department, Government of Balochistan but Qasim Kakar has obtained stay order by filing civil suit in the High Court of Sindh at Karachi and has support from MNFSR and the DPP for not vacating his stay from the court.
The DPP’s role in regulating agricultural trade is integral to Pakistan’s food security and international trade reputation. Allegations of corruption in these appointments could tarnish the department’s credibility and potentially attract sanctions or restrictions from global trade partners.
Call for Action
Stakeholders and experts are urging the Ministry of National Food Security & Research to create directorate of food safety in the DPP to conduct food safety compliances of trading countries along with directorate of plant quarantine to conduct phytosanitary compliances, and directorate of pesticides to conduct pesticides standardization and registration and directorate of locust surveillance and control besides appointing around 2400 qualified and experienced officers in DPP to run its functions smoothly. They further called for investigation of the selection process behind these transfers because these transfer and posting have been made on the recommendation of Dr. Qasim Khan Kakar and Israr Khan Kakar. A transparent and stringent vetting mechanism must be implemented to ensure only ethical and qualified personnel are appointed to key positions.
As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the DPP will take corrective measures to safeguard its integrity and operational effectiveness.
