Policy paralysis and poor leadership behind Pakistan’s maize freefall
ISLAMABAD: In a sharp and unprecedented rebuke, the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has attributed 87% decline in corn / maize export with mismanagement, incompetency negligence and wrong policy of Ministry of National Food Security and Research (M/oNFS&R) during the first quarter of 2025. The losses now exceeding $50 million are being described as self-inflicted, stemming from poor policy decisions and bureaucratic gridlock.
In July, 2025, M/oNFS&R unilaterally and unwisely halted all maize exports to Vietnam having been received notification of non-compliances of just five corn shipments with Trogoderma granarium (khapra beetle) from National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Vietnam. International standard for pytosanitary measures-13 (ISPM-13) of International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) suggests that NPPO of the exporting country should investigate the reasons of non-compliances / interceptions and apply corrective measures immediately to avoid such occurences having been received notification of non-compliance for its export consignment. The results of investigation and corresponding measures should also be required to be shared with NPPO of importing country.
However, contrary to ISPM-13 of IPPC, M/oNFS&R neither investigated reasons of interception / non-compliance nor took corrective actions nor shared its results with NPPO, Vietnam to clarify the positions. Rather, Mr. Tahir Abbas, non-technical Director General imposed a blanket ban on export of corn from Pakistan to Vietnam without receiving any such notification from Vietnam. This imprudent and unlawful administrative decision has caused zero corn export to Vietan during last four months of 2025 wreaking loss of $211 million to national exchequer besides allowing India and USA to occupy Vietnam market again in 2024-2025 compared to last fiscal year, sources privy to quarantin section divulged.
In a formal communication to the MNFSR sent on Friday, MoC seems dismal & frustrated over the M/oNFS&R & DPP’s months-long inaction, despite prior consensus between M/oNFS&R, DPP & MoC to avoid broad-based self imposed export bans. Export figures illustrate the scale of the collapse: over 150,000 metric tons of maize were exported to Vietnam in July–August 2024; by October, that figure had plummeted to zero and has remained there ever since.
In response to earlier alarm raised by MoC regarding declining export of corn to Vietnam during first three months of 2025, Rao Muhammad Ishfaque, Deputy Director Quarantine, having been applied for Leave Preparatory to Retirement (LPR) turn Director Technical Quarantine on current charge rushed out a new set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on March 26, 2025 without consulting exporters. These SOPs have been criticized scientifically unjustified and tantamount to trade barrier. The MoC termed requiring double fumigation of corn with methyl bromide, first application during storage and second in containers, in defiance of recommendation of 64th Agricultural Pesticides Technical Advisory Committee (APTAC). MoC also designated accreditation of compliant corn processing untis with DPP an additional burdens.
The pathetic state of knowledge of concerned officials from MoC, MoNFS&R and the DPP involved in export of corn is evident from this fact that all those are unaware that APTAC is not a right authority to prescribe disinfestation treatments on preshipments. Rather National Biosecurity Technical Committee, National Plant Health Committee (NPHC), & National Food Safety Committee (NFSC) are empowered to prescribe fumigation of Methyl bromide on preshipments. They are also ignorant that fumigation is applied on the preshipments as per requirements of importing country.
MoC also highlighted in the letter that the crisis has not gone unnoticed in the media. A report by local media earlier this month revealed that maize exports dropped from 419,432 metric tons in Q1 2024 to just 53,725.85 metric tons in Q1 2025 a staggering 87.19% drop. Exports to 17 major markets, including Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, China, France, and Bangladesh, fell to zero. Afghanistan, despite still being the top importer, saw a 47% decline in volume. Other significant drops included Malaysia (down 89.86%), UAE (90.29%), and Qatar (91.98%). The government’s own data show that maize is still in surplus with 6 million metric tons available for export from a total national output of 9.6 million metric tons yet the trade has ground to a halt.
Pakistan had been emerged as one of promising exporter of non-genetically engineered (Non-GMO) corn to Vietnam in 2021-22 after successful negotiation and finalization of pest risk assessment between DPP and NPPO Vietnam resulting market access from NPPO Vietnam for Pakistani corn.
There’s another storm brewing on the horizon. The resumption of GMO soybean imports widely used in poultry feed is expected to undercut local maize demand, further discouraging cultivation in upcoming seasons. This could deepen the crisis, turning a temporary export setback into a long-term structural issue for Pakistan’s agriculture sector.
Insiders attribute the nosedive corn export to ill-timed politically motivated reshuffles in DPP. The qualified & most experienced plant quarantine & food safety experts such as Dr. Allah Ditta Abid, Dr. Muhammad Tariq Khan, & Dr. Muhammad Sohail Shahzad under whom agricultural exports soared to $400 million in 2023-2024, were under dark clouds due to influence of an interest group headed by a London based clearing agent Israr Khan. These replacements, critics allege, failed to sustain essential phytosanitary systems, instead implementing rigid policies that alienated Vietnam and other key markets.
Mr. Tahir Abbas, originally a custom officer of BS-19 from 30th CTP reportedly bought lucrative position of Director General DPP out of his cadre from the Establishment Division through his batchmate female officer from inland revenue having fervent connection in federal government due her spouse that was former bureaucrat turn politician, an officer from inland revenue disclosed on anonymity. He does not hold essential qualification and experience concerning to biosecurity.
Previously, Tahir Abbas was depending mainly on Dr. Muhammad Basit, having been held dual positions, Director Quarantine, BS-19 & Director Pesticides Registration, BS-19 Dr. Muhammad Basit has been working in Locust Section since his appointment (September 2011) to date of his said positions. He does not have any experience of sanitary and phytosanitary measures. In 2019, Mr. Basit worked as Deputy Director Quarantine Operation. He has been behind bar for more than four months on account of releasing infested soybean vessel in exchange of 16 million rupees as payoff. The masterminds behind his unlawful actions and proposal are reportedly a London based clearing agents including Israr Khan, Hanzala Khan and Umar Farooq who are amassing illegal gratification from importers and exporters, the forensic report of Umar Farooq’ mobile exposed.
