Director General of Department of Plant Protection Dr Mubarak Ahmed has sought the support of business community in getting established Food Safety Regulatory Authority (FSRA). Speaking at a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), he said that although a bill was drafted a long time ago for setting up an authority for food safety, no further progress was made in this regard.
He was of the view that establishment of such an authority would help enhance Pakistan's market access to international markets through export of quality agriculture products. Dr Ahmed stated: "Imports and exports around the world are backed up by Research & Development (R&D), but unfortunately no R&D was taking place in the case of Pakistan's imports and exports and as such the issue required utmost attention." He said that DPP was currently passing through transition and all-out efforts were being made to improve its operation. "There are good and bad players in the market, but we will never allow the bad players to play with the lives of masses by importing substandard and unhygienic commodities into the Pakistani markets," he warned.
He said that clearing agents were also responsible for delays in clearance of consignment as they even demand certain charges from traders under the head of DPP's service charges. "In fact, such clearing agents are deceiving traders as the department did not charge any amount under the head of service charges," he clarified. Referring to the European Union's frequent interceptions of mango consignments and warning for banning import of mango from Pakistan, Dr Mubarak said that the DPP, last year, took up the issue seriously, ensuring export of high quality mangoes to the EU. Consequently, the EU's interceptions were reduced drastically which, he added, could be gauged from the fact that not a single interception occurred last year, while only three interceptions took place in 2015.
Regarding hot water treatment plants, he said that the number of hot water treatment plants have been increased from one to 29 in a short span of one year. "Of the total 29 hot water treatment plants, eight existed in Karachi," he said, adding that the plants have become a lucrative business as they help in doubling the mango exports to Europe". Speaking on the occasion, the KCCI president Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra pointed out that HS Codes for pulses have not been reflected in the trade policy, creating problems for the traders concerned.
He stressed the need for evolving a transparent system in the DPP, besides increasing its workforce for expeditiously addressing the grievances of the business community. He urged the DPP to carry out required testing and examination of commodities but it should refrain from `undue' examination of consignments of credible businessmen. Voicing his concern over smuggling of various commodities, former president of KCCI Haroon Agar said that though DPP has been making efforts to intercept sub-standard commodities, its efforts did not bring fruits when many commodities, particularly the sub-standard and life-threatening betel nuts, entered into the country's markets through smuggling.
He urged the government to take stringent measures to stop cross-border smuggling of betel nuts and other hazardous commodities as they have been posing serious health hazards to the masses. Earlier, a special committee, comprising KCCI vice president Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan, Haroon Agar and Anis Majeed, was formed to examine the issues being faced by traders in dealing with the DPP.