ISLAMABAD: Ministry of National Food Security and Research Minister Syed Ayaz Ali Shah faced embarrassment when he issued an order asking Plant Protection Department (PPD) staff at Karachi port to avoid late sitting without knowing that the concerned department remains open for 24 hours around the world to facilitate exports and imports of food items.
During his surprise visit to the office of the quarantine department of PPD situated at seaport on February 1, 2018, and warned that staff will be punished for performing their duties beyond their office timings. He also expressed his serious annoyance over the late sitting of staff without consulting for knowing the reasons for extra duty timing at the department. Interestingly the minister also issued an order/directive to officials asking them to follow official timings with effect from February 1, 2018, i.e from 08:00 am to 04:00 pm strictly at seaports’ offices of the DPP. As per the order, a copy of which is available, the department was also strictly instructed to observe Saturday as a holiday.
According to sources, the order was not only surprising for the quarantine staff but also the stakeholders, importers and exporters who feared a loss of at least $ 1 million for change in the schedule of duty of the staff and closure of activity during the next three days till February 6.
Following the surprising development, the exporters of fresh fruits and vegetables rushed to the Ministry of Commerce and approached the commerce minister for immediately resolving the issue and avoid losses.
Interestingly, the minister took back his order soon after he came to know through the commerce minister that extra duty or late sitting of quarantine staff was a routine matter.
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Vice President Waheed Ahmed said that the issuance of the order had created panic. Exporters feared huge losses as the absence of staff of quarantine department, who are posted at seaports for inspecting and fumigating the arriving vessels and ensuring quarantine rules besides issuing Phyto-sanitary certificates to all export consignments of agriculture produces arriving at the seaports from different parts of the country, will cause halt in trade handling at the port.
He, however, said the crisis was averted by Commerce Minister Parvez Malik by taking timely action against the move.
In Pakistan, fruits are brought from far off cities in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab and it is quite difficult for the Quarantine department having inadequate manpower to inspect at field and pack houses to issue the phyto-certificates, however, the quarantine staff posted at the seaports are extending a  supportive role in this context.
After getting complaints from exporters and FPCCI, Pervaiz Malik immediately directed Commerce Secretary Younus Dahaga to coordinate with the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to get this official order withdrawn. Within a few hours the commerce secretary informed exporters and importers that appraising the serious consequences of the issue and drastic negative impact resulting in anticipated huge financial loss to the trade as well exporters, he has managed to get the order withdrawn and as a result of that the staff of quarantine department posted at seaports would continue providing services as usual.
