Export of mangoes to Iran: Ministry directs DPP to approve four HWT plants

KARACHI: The Ministry of National, Food Security & Research (MNFSR) has issued directives for approval of four Hot Water Treatment (HWT) plants for export to Iran, while the other two plants would also be approved after an inspection.

Taking a serious notice of the complaints by All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters, Importers & Merchants Association (PFVA) about six HWT plants for export of mangoes to Iran, the Ministry has issued a necessary directive for approval of four HWT plants that meet standards required by the European Union while the other two plants would also be approved after an inspection just after the holidays of Eid-ul-Azha should these plants fulfill the required standards.

Recently, the PFVA wrote a letter to the Federal Minister MNFSR and pointed out the gross negligence by the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) in final approval of the six HWT plants which will process mangoes for export to Iran. The PFVA also highlighted the huge financial losses to the country's exports as a well likely negative impact on investment cast in the mango industry.

Keeping the gravity of this serious issue in view, a video conference was conducted by the MNFSR Saturday in which the owners of the disapproved HWT plants spelled out their grievances with the MNFSR Secretary Omer Hamid Khan. During the conference, Waheed Ahmed Patron-in-Chief PFVA talked about problems and difficulties encountered by the plants owners and members of the PFVA as a result of an inordinate delay in the approval of these plants by the DPP.

According to Waheed Ahmed, the Federal Secretary after hearing the issue of pending approval of the six additional HWT plants for the export of mangoes to Iran and instantly issued a directive for approval of the four HWT plants without further inspection which meets standards of the EU countries.

These include HWT plant of M/s Iftekhar & Co, M/s AZZ traders HWT processing & Packhouse facility, M/s RMC HWT plant and M/s Dhillon HWT plant while the remaining two plants namely HWT plant of M/s M Abdullah M Owais & M/s Millat trading company, would be inspected by the DPP just after Eid-ul-Azha and approved to process mangoes for export to Iran provided these plants have made up deficiencies pointed out during the last inspection conducted by the DPP

It was also decided during the video conference to conduct a forensic audit of the past 3-5 years through the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to expose elements, which are creating barriers and using "delaying tactics" in process of approval of additional HWT plants and to keep "monopoly" of a few "favorite approved HWT plants" besides audit of records of the DPP in facilitating the monopoly.

During the meeting PFVA also so urged to reshuffle staff of the DPP involved in process of inspection of HWT plants for approval & be in the department for a relatively long period of time in case they show reluctance in reshuffling, the show cause notices be served to all such staff/officers.

To ensure transparency and fair trade practices in the working of the DPP, the Director-General DPP has been issued directive to develop a simple procedure of inspection and approval process within a week.

According to Waheed Ahmed, the ministry has played a significant role in the removal of barriers to promote export of mangoes, particularly during the COVID -19 pandemic & lockdowns when the export of mangoes encountered serious challenges.

With this important decision of the Federal Minister MNFSR Fakhar Imam, the HWT plants located one each in South Punjab & Quetta, would start processing mangoes for export to Iran during the current season of mangoes leading to the creation of employment opportunities. The HWT plant of Quetta after its approval would be the only one of its kind in the entire Balochistan which would facilitate exporters of this province, he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020