February 4, 2002	Monday	Ziqa’ad 20, 1422

A NEWS paper report said that the government of Pakistan has disallowed transportation of about 50,000 tons of imported wheat to Afghanistan by the World Food Programme (WFP), due to its bad quality.

The agricultural ministry objected to the quality of imported wheat the WFP was to carry through Pakistan, because it was contaminated which could have caused similar contamination in Pakistani wheat during its transportation. The very objection of the ministry, if viewed in the backdrop of International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) of 1951 as well as year 2000 of Food and Agriculture Organization seems fully justified as the majority of countries are now fully conscious of plant quarantine requirements for the protection of their agriculture. In addition to direct control measures adequate attention is being paid to the quarantine procedure in an effort to keep out serious exotic pests and diseases from one’s own territory.

The IPPC ensures through contracting parties through phytosanitary certification that new pests will not be introduced into their respective territories. It is also ensured at the same time that measures taken for plant protection are technically justified. Although the IPPC is an international accord, its standards are not legally binding. However, the WTO members are required to base their phytosanitary measures on international standards developed within the frame-work of IPPC.

There is no doubt the regulations are very stringent and at times seem detrimental to the international trade, the interests of an importing country or those otherwise affected, enjoy every right to safeguard their agriculture.

Each country has her own pest problems and by and large their economy is based on certain crops which are very vital as food or raw material. Since wheat crop occupies the prime position among food crops and is the staple food for the people of Pakistan, the full protection given to it against indigenous as well as exotic pests and diseases is fully justified.

A study of these prohibitive measures will reveal that these are laid down with specific purposes in view by the concerned countries. The khapra beetle (trogoderma granarium) is a very serious pest of stored grains, particularly wheat in the South Asian region and does not occur in most of the countries with cold climate and prohibition placed on it is fully justified. An example of accidental entry of this very insect in the USA in 1940’s and 1950’s amply shows its dangerous consequences. The pest was eradicated but only after an expenditure of million of dollars. Similarly it may be stated that Pakistan being free from boll weevil (anthonomous grandis)- -a serious pest of American cotton— the import of unginned cotton as well as cotton seed from all countries is prohibited except under special authorization for experimental purpose as per Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967.

Suggestions: Following the commencement of the reconstruction works in Afghanistan enormous increase in the movement of various commodities including plant and plant materials of foreign origin is likely to take place using the Pakistan territory.

In order to prevent entry and spread of pests and diseases through Afghanistan’s transit trade, it is imperative that the Federal Department of Plant Protection, responsible for international plant quarantines, strengthen its regulatory service in the country.

Moreover, in order to detect the newly-introduced pests a onstant survey may be initiated using network of regional entomologists in all the four provinces of the country.