LAHORE: Two private mango exporters have alleged bias in the decisions of the mango export committee and accused it of having connections with blacklisted firms. They called for immediate action from the caretaker prime minister.

Through letters to the secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security & Research, these companies accused the committee, including the chairman and vice-chancellor of the Mian Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture, Multan, of formulating policies favorable to blacklisted companies conniving with the banned hot water treatment companies from Multan. According to them, such affiliations cast doubts on the committee’s impartiality and integrity.

They allege an apparent lack of familiarity with the phytosanitary measures and crucial biosecurity and phytosanitary agreements/protocols and technical procedures between the Plant Protection Organization (PPO) of Iran and the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) of Pakistan by the committee’s chairman and vice-chancellor.

According to them, the committee members are basically researchers and absolutely unaware of regulatory affairs and International Plant Protection Convention guidelines, and their job is to conduct research and develop new mango varieties according to the market requirements of trading countries. However, both have made no contribution to developing new mango varieties that are exportable, other than the century-old Sindhri and Chaunsa mango varieties.

“The recommendations influenced and dictated by blacklisted companies might trigger controversies in international markets, tarnishing Pakistan’s reputation,” wrote Durrani Associates in its letter to the ministry. It denounced the committee’s research and report, which reveals that mangoes produced in Punjab and treated in Karachi plants have been exported through bogus phytosanitary certificates without any solid evidence.

“We express dissatisfaction with the committee’s Punjab-centric composition and its attempts to amend agreements without broader consultation,” wrote Rishad Mateen & Company.

The All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association also expressed serious concern and questioned the legal authority of the committee’s composition and its report to amend the agreed protocol 2005 and 2015 between the DPP and the PPO.

They also cautioned that failure to take corrective measures could severely impact the mango export industry and the broader economy after the failure of citrus export to trading countries due to wrong policies and lack of research and development.

According to them, the situation has sparked questions about the transparency and integrity of committees entrusted with shaping national policies.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2024