PESHAWAR, Jan 10: Decision to abolish Pakistan Oilseed Development Board (PODB) is against the interests of the country as it slashed the country’s import bill by Rs 27 billion during the last six years.

Moreover, the Oil Palm and Olive Oil schemes initiated by the PODB would make the country self-sufficient during the coming five years. The government is spending Rs 40 billion every year on the import of edible oil. However, certain elements for their personal interest were out to put the future of this viable institution at stake, said President of the Employees Association of PODB, Fazal Maula while talking to APP here on Friday.

He said 409 employees of PODB would lose their jobs. The decision to abolish PODB was made in the light of the recommendations of the Economic Coordination Council (ECC), which has suggested establishment of a cell in the ministry of food and agriculture, he said.

He suggested that the PODB should be strengthened on sound footings in order to curtail the import of edible oil. He recalled that the ministry had recently submitted an action plan to ECC for promotion of oilseed crops in the country for implementation by the PODB.

However, it was a matter of concern that the department which proposed this action plan and had to implement it on the ground, was abolished.

Fazal Maula said the domestic production of edible oil was 665,000 tons before the establishment of the PODB in 1995 which registered an additional increase of 168,000 tons per year from 1995 onward till 2000-01.