Lahore: A serious storm has brewed over Pakistan’s plant quarantine and biosecurity system amid explosive allegations that live plants were illegally permitted for import from China in massive quantities, reportedly in direct violation of the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 2019 — rules designed to shield the country from devastating pests, diseases, and invasive threats.
According to the legal framework, the import of all live plants for sowing and cultivation purposes is prohibited from all countries, including China, under Schedule I of the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 2019. The reason is clear: live plants are classified as very high-risk plants under ISPM-32 of International Plant Protection Convention, and their entry can open the door to catastrophic pest introduction, crop losses, environmental damage, and long-term biosecurity fallout.
While some live plants may be imported from permitted origins and countries under strict conditions, including post-entry quarantine requirements stipulated under Schedule II, the rules do not allow free movement. In fact, the import of live plants is also not permitted under Schedule III of the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 2019. These legal and technical safeguards exist for one reason only — to protect Pakistan’s agriculture from irreversible harm.
Yet, despite these explicit restrictions, serious charges have surfaced against Mr. Nasir Ahmed, Entomologist, Department of Plant Protection outpost Lahore under National Agri Trade & Food Safety Authority (NAF&SA) accusing him of issuing import permit for live plants from China in huge quantities without pest risk analysis, without post-entry quarantine, and without the development of appropriate mitigation measures for appropriate level of protection. Such conduct would amount to a blatant violation of Schedules I, II, and III, read with Rules 3, 8, and 10 of the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 2019 (Rules ibid).
Sources privy to DPP allege that the permit was issued in exchange for a bribe of one million rupees, raising grave questions about the integrity of the plant quarantine system and the vulnerability of Pakistan’s borders to unlawful agricultural imports. The implications are enormous. Experts warn that the illegal entry of high-risk live plants without post entry quarantine and pest risk analysis and without appropriate phytosanitary measures can introduce disparaging invasive pests and diseases associated with these live plants that may spread rapidly across farms, orchards, nurseries, and natural ecosystems.
Alleged Illegal Cut Flower Releases Through Lahore Airport
The controversy does not end there. Additional allegations suggest that Nasir Ahmed, Entomologist, DPP is also involved in the illegal release of cut flowers particularly chrysanthemum flowers imported from restricted countries under schedule I read with rule 20(2) and 21(1)(2)(3) of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 2019 including Kenya where white rust of chrysanthemum is reportedly present. According to the allegations, these releases were made after extorting bribes of Rs. 50,000 to 75,000 per consignment through Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore during his duty hours.
Sources within DPP disclosed that Pakistan does not produce chrysanthemum plants locally in the quantities seen in the market and cut flower plants particularly chrysanthemum sold in flower shops across Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Islamabad are said to have entered the country mainly from Kenya, Dubai and Malaysia through misdeclaration via Lahore airport by his illegal approval. This would point to a deeply troubling pattern of bypassing quarantine controls and allowing potentially contaminated plant material into the domestic market.
White rust of chrysanthemum is a serious plant disease that can cause major commercial losses. The alleged release of cut flowers from affected origins without proper phytosanitary safeguards could expose Pakistan’s floriculture sector — and possibly broader plant health systems — to serious insect and disease pressure.
Defective Mango and Rice Units Allegedly Approved for Bribes
More explosive accusations have also emerged regarding the approval of defective mango hot water treatment plants, bogus treatment certificates for export of mangoes to Iran during 2025 and rice processing units for registration with General Administration of Customs of China. It is alleged that these approvals were granted in exchange for bribes ranging from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 500,000.
Source privy to DPP naked, mango hot water treatment systems are essential for meeting quarantine requirements and export standards of mangoes to Iran, Australia, Korea, Kenya, Jordan and EU countries, while rice processing facilities and warehouses also play a critical role in maintaining phytosanitary and trade integrity. The alleged approval of defective units could undermine both domestic safety and international confidence in Pakistan’s agricultural exports.
Cotton Releases from India Also Under Scrutiny
The allegations further claim that previously, banana & cotton releases from India were also facilitated by Nasir Ahmed, Entomologist in violation of Rule 20 & 28 of the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 by extorting bribes of his choice which restricted import of these plants from India. Cotton and banana imports are highly sensitive from a phytosanitary perspective because of the risk of invasive pest introduction and crop contamination with world most destructive viruses. Any unlawful release could have serious consequences for Pakistan’s cotton economy, which is already under pressure from disease, climate stress, and production losses.
Bribe Collections and Internal Protection Alleged
Perhaps most alarming of all are claims that illegal gratifications are being collected from importers and exporters and passed up to senior officials including Director General and officials of ministry by Nasir Ahmed, Entomologist on regular basis, creating an entrenched system of influence and protection. If such allegations are substantiated, they would indicate that corruption is not isolated, but structural — embedded within the very mechanisms that are supposed to enforce quarantine and protect national biosecurity.
The allegations also extend to the claim that Rana Mukhtar, described as a personal assistant to the Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research is shielding Nasir Ahmed from disciplinary and criminal proceedings in FIA and preventing his transfer to the surplus pool under instruction of the prime minister. It is alleged that this protection exists because of financial benefits and personal arrangements, including payment for the admission of his son in London. Influential officers in the Bureaucracy from a minority religion “Ahmedi” are also shielding Nasir Ahmed from any criminal and disciplinary actions.
Pakistan’s Agriculture and Biosecurity at Stake
These illegal undertakings would amount to a serious betrayal of public trust and a direct threat to Pakistan’s agriculture, environment, and food security. The country’s plant quarantine rules exist to prevent exactly this kind of risk — the unauthorized entry of high-risk plants, the spread of pests and diseases, and the compromise of national biosecurity systems.
Agriculture remains a backbone of Pakistan’s economy, supporting millions of livelihoods. Any breach in quarantine controls can have devastating ripple effects: lower yields, destroyed crops, damaged exports, higher pesticide use, and long-term ecological harm.
Pakistan’s biosecurity and agriculture, already under pressure, are now facing a potential crisis of unprecedented magnitude.
Call for Immediate Investigation
DG, DPP has also initiated an inquiry against Nasir Ahmed, Entomologist on the instructions of the Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security, Islamabad, amid calls from stakeholders for immediate action against the corruption and corrupt practices of Nasir Ahmad. The influential bureaucrats in government from a minority sect having origin from India and some present and past senior officers (Director General, Director Technical, Deputy Director) from DPP, PARC and Ministry have also become active to shielding him and save him from disciplinary proceedings to whom he has been supplying bribes on regular basis.
Given the seriousness of the claims, experts and concerned parties are urging a full-scale inquiry into live plant import permits issued from China, alleged non-compliance with post-entry quarantine, unauthorized cut flower releases, approvals of defective treatment plants, alleged cotton import violations, and the alleged flow of monthly payments within the department.
