MULTAN, Aug 15: Pesticide importers observed a countywide token strike against, what they said, improper use of section 21-A of the Pesticide Ordinance of 1971 by government institutes. Pesticide dealers also observed a shutter down strike in Punjab to show their support for the importers.

The strike was called by the Pakistan Crop Protection Association and the Pesticide Importers and Formulators Association.

The associations threatened with a complete strike for an indefinite period if their demands were not accepted.

Aamir Aziz Malik, executive body member of the Pakistan Crop Protection Association, told Dawn the government had amended the pesticide ordinance to increase the power of government authorities, which was unjustified.

He alleged illegal appointments were being made in the Plant Protection Department of Karachi.

He demanded the government stop interference of inspectors in pesticide business, make them (inspectors) bound to only take samples of pesticides from warehouses and restrict their entrance to plants without representatives of pesticide associations.

He also demanded that before filing a first information report against any pesticide dealer, the nature of offence be determined by a technical committee.

He said that formulation should be recognised as manufacturing operation and registration of formulated pesticides be issued in the name of local formulators in accordance with the registration policy of the government. He alleged the registration of pesticide plants was being delayed due to discriminatory procedures.

He demanded the proposed legislation, which was against basic human rights, freedom of doing business and fair trade laws, be immediately withdrawn as many companies had withdrawn their import consignments and suspended their manufacturing operations in the country because of the legislation.

He also demanded the decision taken by the agricultural pesticide technical advisory committee regarding allowing companies to use brand names for their products under generic system be implemented.

OKARA: Over 550 fertilizer and pesticide dealers took out a protest rally against the imposition of section 21-A in the Agriculture Act by the Federal government.

Dealers under the leadership of their organisation office-bearers took out the procession and staged a sit-in outside the Okara Press Club.

They demanded the government withdraw the section 21-A. The law empowers agriculture officer to register criminal cases against dealers.

SAHIWAL: Pesticide dealers in Harappa, Noorshah, Qadirabad, Yusafwala, Ghaziabad, Kassowal, Chichawatni and Sahiwal observed a shutter down strike. They demanded the government withdraw “fake” cases registered by agricultural authorities against them.