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Foundation laid of Pakistan
Plant Quarantine Project
KARACHI-Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Khair
Mohammed Junejo, Friday laid the foundation stone of Rs 160
million Pakistan Plant Quarantine Expansion Project at Jinnah
Avenue, Malir, and said China's contribution in agriculture
sector development is remarkable.
Speaking on the occasion the Minister described the Quarantine
expansion project as one example and said it caters to the
need of present time when trade discipline, especially,
freedom from pests, suitable treatment, storage, packaging and
transport have to be given due consideration and the
phytosanitary requirements of the trading partners have to be
fulfilled.
This project is going to enhance the capacity of the plant
quarantine division which is a regulatory arm of the
Department of Plan Protection, he pointed out. Mr Junejo said
Allah has bestowed upon us good land, resources and weather
conditions suitable for cultivation of grain, fiber, vegetable
and fruit crops.
Our produce, he continued, is high quality favorite in the
world market, contributes 25% of GDP, which is increasing with
time. The agriculture sector, it is a fact, has contributed to
food security, health, export and economic growth of the
country.
He pointed out that agricultural trade is predominantly in the
private sector and the export subsidy has been totally
abolished in case of cotton and rice- the major exports
commodities.
However, he observed, our agriculture trade has been
influenced by the sanitary and phytosanitary measures of the
trading partners. Pakistan has standards to ensure health
(pest freedom), hygiene and purity of agricultural produce for
the local market
and export. These are being upgraded according to the WTO-SPS
Agreement on the application of phytosanitary measures and the
other international norms.
Khair Mohammed Junejo said the issues of concern that have
emerged over the years and especially in the post-WTO era, in
the trade of plants, plant products, seeds etc. are quarantine
pests, pesticide residue,aflatoxin, heavy metals,
radioactivity, food
additives, genetically modified plants and pests, sanitation
from farm to consumer's plate, produce tracbility, packing and
packaging.
Many trading partners, owing to their greater economic power,
have set higher SPS standards, which range from information
requirement to improt bans. He told the audience that consumer
concern over the agricultural raw materials, semi-processed
products and food as to their safety and quality is
intensifying. The trade in agricultural material has to be
safe.
For this the international standards of phytosanitary measures
have to be adopted and in certain cases bilateral protocols
are required to be established and this is only
possible through an appropriate legal framework and a strong
quarantine organization.
Mr Junejo said our country needs quarantine set up that can
demonstrate its capability to check pest spread and facilitate
trade. Building up the requisite organ is capital intensive.
We are lucky to have assistance in this enterprise from
People's Republic of China, he added.
November 21, 2001
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