Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain reiterated the government’s dedication to boosting exports, announcing plans to digitize the registration process for pesticides to streamline operations.
In a meeting with Dr. Tariq Khan, the director general of plant protection, Minister Hussain emphasized the need for an efficient inspection system for rice and mango plants. He stressed the importance of timely inspections to maintain quality standards.
While agricultural pesticides are essential for crop protection, concerns have been raised about their misuse and the impact on human health and the environment in Pakistan. Minister Hussain emphasized that while exporters would receive support to enhance exports, compromising on quality and standards would not be tolerated.
He outlined the government’s commitment to increasing exports, highlighting plans to improve the fumigation system and expand the number of fumigation companies. Minister Hussain also recognized the significant role of the plant protection department (PPD) in the agriculture sector.
The minister discussed plans to enhance the PPD’s performance, emphasizing the importance of transparency and meritocracy. He stressed the need to digitize operations to ensure transparency and combat corruption and inefficiency.
Minister Hussain affirmed the government’s commitment to modernizing the PPD to improve efficiency and effectiveness. He assured that all necessary resources would be allocated to address staffing shortages within the department.
