Fruit, vegetableexporters air concern over new authority

The All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) has expressed serious reservations about the proposed bill for establishing the National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA).

The PFVA, having gone through the bill, was of the view that a critical analysis should be carried out to ascertain reasons for the failure of the existing entity – the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) – which did not meet expectations of the government.

The DPP lacked the required manpower, qualified and trained staff, inspection and testing facilities and effective check and balance. If without realistic analysis, NAFSA was established to replace the existing department, it would also likely fail to perform, the PFVA cautioned. Association Chairman Aslam Pakhali pointed out that the establishment of NAFSA would lead to the overlapping of functions, adding that there were concerns about how the new authority would interact with the existing departments and agencies.