Unlike the market phenomenon of demand and supply and in an apparent move to hoard commodities ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, pulses and fruits are largely being imported despite the huge surplus of stock of consumer items already available.
According to official sources at the ministry of national food security and research, large quantities of various pulses are being imported, despite the availability of over 385000 metric tons (MT) of fresh crop which is enough to meet the domestic consumption till December this year. The monthly consumption of pulses is around 50000 MT while the demand in Ramadan could reach up to 120000 MT. “Although there is no need to import pulses, importers are surprisingly importing the kitchen item, citing shortage as the reason,” they said.
“Not only are the pulses and fruits being imported in excessive quantities, but also without meeting the set quality and quarantine standards, certification and testing reports, risking the domestic crop. Despite the unwanted imports and the nonconformity of the required phytosanitary certificates, the importers were pressurizing the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) and other concerned authorities for an early release of their shipments at the Karachi Port,” they added.
According to a letter sent to the ministry by the DPP on April 26, 2017, a copy of which is available with Pakistan Today, states that during the past 10 months (from 1st July, 2016 to 24 April, 2017), 10026 shipments of lentils/pulses, weighing 1065491.00 MT have so far arrived Pakistan. Surprisingly, the imports of pulses recorded during the past 10 months were higher by 285958 MT as compared to the total imports in financial year 2015-16, in which only 779,533 MT pulses were imported.
Out of 1065491.00 MT imports, 4840 shipments weighing 522830.00 MT had a valid import permit and valid phytosanitary certificate. 116 shipments weighing 12947.00 MT arrived without the phytosanitary certificate, however, having a valid import permit, were allowed entry under Rule 8(6) after taking the necessary phytosanitary actions i.e., inspection, fine, testing and treatment with in 2 to 3 days.
“Only non-compliant shipments were kept under phytosanitary actions in order to prevent entry and spread of exotic and invasive insects, pests, diseases and weeds in order to safeguard the national crops’ wealth, ensuring food security because once the exotic bio security risks are introduced in the country, it will requires billions of rupees for their eradication, applying long term control programs and measures,” the letter said.
According to the letter pathogenic microorganisms, including Fusarium chylamydosporum, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium moniliformi and Fusarium semitectum have been detected and identified during lab testing of imported pulses at the point of entry in Pakistan. Besides quarantine weeds’ seeds, out of which two are quarantine pests of Pakistan and are very destructive. Whereas others are regulated non-quarantine pests and require phytosanitary measures before allowed an entry.
Apart from the pulses, 336 consignments of 12088 MT fresh fruits were also imported during the past 10 months without permit orders. However, these were released by DPP after some preliminary tests at ports.
When contacted, Director General DPP Dr Syed Waseem ul Hassan said that annual import of only pulses into Pakistan were $450 million, which could be stopped only by investing $100 million in the sector.
He said that hue and cry on the part of importers for an early release of consignments at the port were not justified keeping the facts in view. “Importers, as they claim to shift 4000 consignments to India, had actually availed the opportunity of Rs 30/kg profit in India. Besides, those who claim non clearance of 2000 containers at the port by DPP, are actually lying as they were deliberately delaying in grounding of cargo for inspection to wait for a further price jump in the market,” he said.
“There is no shortage of pulses in the country and enough stock is available to meet the demand of next eight months. It’s up to the government and administrations of all the provinces to discourage hoarding and artificial shortage in market,” he added.
