In a shocking development within National Agri Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA), Dr. Muhammad Ishfaque has been removed from his position as Director Technical Quarantine in Karachi and transferred to Lahore as Deputy Director Technical. This move is reportedly part of a controversial covert arrangement involving Dr. Syed Bilal Haider, joint secretary of Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MoNFS&R) and Miss Shazia Mateen, owner of RMC Mango Hot Water Treatment Plant (Mango-HWTP), who are alleged to have collaborated to secure favourable postings for their preferred officers.
The collaboration between the Mateen sisters and Mr. Haider struck few days back in Islamabad that aims to establish a control and command system within the NAFSA and monitoring mechanism at Mango-HWTPs as suitable as to Miss Shazia’s and her sister Shumila’s Mango-HWTPs.
Muhammad Basit, Director Technical of Pesticides Registration, has been given look after as Director Quarantine in addition to his own duties as Director Pesticides Registration despite having no experience in plant quarantine and preshipment, with the specific task of appointing inspectors of Miss Shazia choice at her plants and within the command-and-control room of NAFSA, claimed by Miss Shazia Mateen.
Dr. Muhammad Basit, an officer despite with tainted integrity and unclean hands due to his involvement in corrupt and unlawful practices and criminal cases (FIA FIR No. 2/2019 u/s 161/162/241/109 PPC r/w 5(2) PCA 1947) and failure to control locust outbreak during 2019 & 2020 as head of locust section DPP has now become blue eyed of MoNFS&R and NAFSA due to his connection with Mr. Afzal Bhatti—known as the Prime Minister’s cook— and his friend Israr Khan—clearing agent and human trafficker— and both provide clearing services to importers and exporters from NAFSA. They have opened rate of 50 million rupees to continue operation of Mango-HWTP without any oversight and restriction from NAFSA.
Earlier, Miss Priyanka Oad, Miss Mahwish Aziz, Miss Tahir Talib, Hafiz Zohaib, Faisal Shehzad, Abraiz had been removed from quarantine section on the desire of Israr Khan and Afzal Bhatti, claimed by Miss Shazia Mateen. However, the real circumstance that led to their transfer from quarantine section was their refusal to Mateen sisters to approve their false treatment capacity beyond 5 tons mangoes per hour as well as allow them to issue fake treatment certificate and obtain phytosanitary certificates without proper operations of their Mango-HWTPs.
The controversy escalated last month again when Mateen sisters failed to obtain annual accreditation for their Mango-HWTPs to handle and process 15 tons mangoes per hour, due to Dr. Ishfaque’s insistence that they must demonstrate their capacity by processing 15 metric tons of mangoes within 75 hours in front of them along with automatic data logger print of treatment and speed as well as refusal to post Abdul Samad, Umer Rathore, Muhammad Tayyab Entomologist at their plants for oversight that ended up in transfer and reversion of Dr. Muhammad Ishfaque as was being expected after Mateen sisters deal.
The present length of Mango-HWTP of Mateen sister is 120 feet that can handle and process 5 tons mangoes per 75 minutes. Last year, Abdul Samad, Umar Rathore and Muhammad Tayyab Entomologists issued fake audit report as well as fake treatment certificate in accordance with 15 tons mangoes per hours taking bribes. Subsequently, the same was approved by Irani inspectors.
Miss Shazia Mateen has allegedly hired the services of Israr Khan and his associate, Mr. Afzal Bhatti in addition to Mr. Haider to facilitate their operations and transfer and posting of their chosen inspectors. Reports indicate that Bhatti, in conjunction with Mr. Ahad Cheema former corrupt bureaucrat turned politician, has influenced MoNFS&R and NAFSA to relax monitoring and supervision protocols, enabling the Mateen sisters to process and export mangoes to Iran.
In a related development, Mr. Sheikhi, a clearing agent based in Sistan Balochistan, Iran, has reportedly collaborated with Mrs. Marayum Jalili Moghadam, head of the Iranian Plant Protection Organization. This shocking deal allegedly allows for the entry of produce from the Mateen sisters’ plants through Rizwan Traders Quetta, only and the return of mangoes to Pakistan processed at other facilities, through fabricated interceptions and give effect to their monopoly.
The situation has raised significant concerns among other plant operators, who are demanding impartial and transparent standard operating procedures from the government and NAFSA. They argue that if the Mateen sisters are permitted to issue fraudulent treatment certificates with the help of inspectors of their choosing for export of mangoes to Iran through Rizwan Traders, other plants will stage protests outside the NAFSA office. The allegations of corruption and favouritism within the NAFSA have sparked outrage, prompting calls for accountability.
As this story develops, the implications for the integrity and image of the NAFSA and the broader agricultural sector remain to be seen. Stakeholders are urging immediate action to ensure compliance with standards and fair treatment across all facilities.
