Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Junaid EsmailMakda has expressed deep concern over the ‘hindrances’ being created by the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) in smooth clearance of consignments of various commodities including pulses which, according to him, are causing severe damage to importers on account of heavy demurrage and detention charges. While referring to a meeting with a delegation from Pakistan Pulses Importers Association (PPIA) held recently to discuss this particular issue, KCCI president pointed out that although the relevant importers had been supplying these commodities without any trouble since many years but during the last one-and-a-half year, DPP had started demanding to produce the ‘Phyto-sanitary certificate’ in which Non-GMO (Genetically Modified Crop) must be mentioned.”It is purely an unjust demand as the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Act 1976 and Pakistan Quarantine Rules 1967 remain silent about the Non-GMO requirement”, he added. He said that Pakistan, despite being an agricultural country, had been importing pulses and other commodities since many years due to excessive demand of these commodities and limited local production. He said that the importers, instead of being appreciated for ensuring smooth supply of essential commodities in the marketplace were being punished by enacting such business hurdles. Junaid Makda demanded necessary amendments or a clarification from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. He opined that the Quarantine Departments of exporting countries should be advised to write Non-GMO in thephyto-sanitary certificates since only a few countries mentioned Non-GMO in phyto-sanitary certificates while many others simply did not mention Non-GMO in the certificate, making it difficult for Pakistani importers to fulfill this condition laid down by DPP operating under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. While urging the government to take immediate steps to resolve this issue, Junaid Makda suggested that until the relevant regulations were not amended and streamlined, the importers of numerous commodities should be allowed to continue importing on previous terms and conditions up to December 2018. “Meanwhile, the Quarantine Departments of the exporting countries should also be requested to clearly mention Non-GMO in phyto-sanitary certificates and if they fail to do so, the importers should not be held responsible for someone else’s incompetence and inefficiency”, he demanded. Published in Daily Times, October 14th 2018.