An inquiry conducted on the instructions of Federal Minister National Food Security & Research, Sikandar Hayat Bosan, has confirmed that fake phytosanitary certificates (PCs) were issued from Multan for mangoes destined for Iran. According to a fact-finding inquiry conducted by Deputy Director (Quarantine) Multan, Allah Ditta Abid, senior officials from the office of Plant Protection Advisor & Director General and Multan-based entomologist were involved in the fake phytosanitary certificates scam.
The Minister is expected to take strict action against the responsible officials. The fact-finding inquiry report reveals that Deputy Director (Quarantine) Multan, visited M/s Ramzan Associates on June 7, 2016 along with Rana Iftekhar Ahmad, Protocol Officer to the Minister for National Food Security and Research where representatives of M/s Ramzan Associates maintained that: (i) the product reached the plant on May 30, 2015; (ii) treatment started at the plant on June 1, 2016 at 1200 hrs noon and it was closed at 2300 hrs on June 1, 2016 and treated 55 MT mangoes ;(iii) on June 2, 2016 the plant remained closed and no working was done at the plant; (iv) on June 03, 2016, the plant was operated for 5:30 hrs and 33 MT mangoes were treated; (v) Tariq Hasan and Irfan from the PSI agency supervised the processing; (vi) when Imtiaz Ahmad the entomologist from DPP came for inspection on June 2, 2016, the plant was operated only for an hour and only for 25 baskets of 20-22 kg each were treated for 60 minutes; and (v) another representative at the spot added that Imtiaz, an entomologist from DPP, supervised the whole activity and he remained at the plant for all the three days.
According to the report, whenever Deputy Director (Quarantine) Multan sought details of the processing from the Entomologist, he confirmed that he inspected the plant at full capacity ie 5 MT/ hour and for up to 12 hours as per instructions. Furthermore, he added that all the activities are in the notice of Plant Protection Advisor & Director General (PPA&DG). The entomologist also claimed that the PPA&DG has instructed to work directly under his supervision and that there is no need to report or inform the Incharge outpost in any case. The entomologist further maintained that PCs were issued for 95 MT of mangoes treated at M/s Ramzan Associates on June 3,2016.
The report has also disclosed that Iftekhar Ahamd, Protocol Officer to Minister for National Food Security and Research alongwith Waqas was accompanying Imtiaz the entomologist on June 2, 2016 when he was auditing the hot water treatment plant of M/s Ramzan Associates. Both the witnesses confirmed that in their presence only 25 baskets of mangoes each of 20-22 kg were put in the plant and were out after 60 minutes. The witnesses further stated that there were no extra mangoes at plant at that time. Iftekhar Ahmad, Protocol Officer to the Minister, apprised the inquiry officer that he brought the facts to the notice of Minister on June 6, 2016 while he was leaving for Islamabad.
The record available at the plant shared with the inquiry officer shows that transport bilty number 414,407, 408, 409, 410, 411 and 413 were found which show that 7.258 MT of mangoes were shifted from Tando Allah Yar to Multan through trucks. All the bilties were of M/s Janjua Brothers Goods Transport Company near Shell Petrol Pump Multan. When the same bilties were counter-checked it was found that no transport was called against these bilties.
The PSI record at the plant showed that 72.65 MT of the mangoes were treated on June 1, 2016 and 32.135 MT mangoes were treated on June 3, 2016, totalling it to 105.085 MT. Wrapping up the inquiry report, the inquiry officer said that in the light of statements of DPP officials (Iftekhar Ahmad and Waqas) it was witnessed that only 500 kg of mangoes were treated at the plant and no more mangoes were taken to the plant.
The inquiry officer has observed that Imtiaz Ahmed, Entomologist issued certificates only and no inspection was carried out for 95 MT of mangoes because no record regarding incoming and dispatch of the product at the plant was available which implies that the Entomologist issued phytosanitary certificates for the mangoes which were not treated at Hot Water Treatment (HWT) plant and thus indulged in malpractice regarding hampering the export of mangoes to Iran which may ultimately lead to sanctions regarding export of agri commodities to Iran. The concerned officer has also compromised the integrity and worth of the department.
The fake certificates case was further strengthened with the statements of M/s Ramzan Associates who confirmed that no more mangoes except 25 basket of 20-22 kg each were brought to the plant. The inquiry officer, in his concluding remarks, observed that it was crystal clear that the certificates were issued without HWT and even without inspection of the product by entomologist, DPP outpost, Multan.