ISLAMABAD: Iran has officially banned a Pakistani hot water treatment facility after detecting pest contamination in exported mango shipments, sparking fears of a total import ban from Tehran as official documents reveal widespread mishandling and regulatory lapses within Pakistan’s Department of Plant Protection (DPP), an attached department of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR).
In a notification dated August 2, Iran’s Plant Protection Organisation informed the DPP that consignments processed by Heydar Shah HWT violated phytosanitary requirements due to improper disinfection. Tehran immediately removed the firm from its list of authorized export treatment facilities and warned Pakistan to take corrective action, citing international non-compliance and emergency guidelines.
The Iranian ban adds an international dimension to an internal regulatory scandal uncovered by official documents. A surprise inspection report by a DPP monitoring team at RMC Hot Water Treatment (HWT) on July 4 revealed that officials were unable to independently verify required treatment parameters for a 21-tonne European-bound consignment.
According to the report, facility staff failed to supply essential temperature-measuring equipment to test hot-water and pulp temperatures during a two-and-a-half-hour treatment cycle. Furthermore, one of the officials present, Dr. Abdul Latif (SO), departed the premises while verification was still ongoing, alongside Noman Jaffar (AE) and PSI Rehmat.
The documents also uncover potential administrative interference. The inspecting officer said he received multiple calls and a voice message from Hassan Chachar, the DPP official overseeing seasonal mango treatment operations. Chachar reportedly relayed instructions from the Plant Protection Adviser and Director General directing officers to inspect facilities “without disrupting ongoing treatment and without unnecessary strictness.” The department has issued an explanation to Chachar over this move which is believed to save or favor the HWT.
When contacted Hassan Chachar refused to comment on the issue saying that he cannot talk to media.
While RMC HWT and few other plants process significant export volumes of mango, they face scrutiny over alleged close ties with certain DPP officials. The surprise team was aimed at inspecting treatment facilities nationwide and initiating inquiries into potential misconduct, negligence, and inefficiency.
Industry experts and exporters warn that mishandling by regulatory authorities and repeated interceptions of untreated fruit could cripple market access, jeopardize trade certifications and trigger severe import bans across international markets. The Ministry of National Food Security and Research and the DPP are currently reviewing the matter to establish stricter, independent verification protocols before further export clearance is granted, sources said.
