Agri Extension Dept refutes allegations of bogus licensing, poor oversight

The Department of Agriculture Extension has clarified that a news report published in a Sindhi language daily regarding pesticide laboratories, quality control and distribution licensing is contrary to the facts, baseless, fabricated, and unsupported by any credible evidence

HYDERABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Jul, 2026) The Department of Agriculture Extension has clarified that a news report published in a Sindhi language daily regarding pesticide laboratories, quality control and distribution licensing is contrary to the facts, baseless, fabricated, and unsupported by any credible evidence.

The Department's spokesman Munir Kaka on Thursday asserted in a statement that all administrative and technical affairs of the department were conducted in accordance with the law, transparency, and the prescribed rules and regulations.

"The impression that the pesticide laboratories located in Rohri, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, and Hyderabad are non-functional is entirely incorrect," he claimed, adding that all relevant laboratories across the province were fully operational and equipped with modern scientific instruments.

According to him, those laboratories regularly conducted testing, analysis and quality verification of pesticide and fertilizer samples in accordance with the prescribed legal procedures and internationally recognized standards.

"The allegations that companies are being issued fake or unlawful certificates for substandard agricultural pesticides or fertilizers are completely baseless," he said.

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Kaka reiterated that the laboratory reports and certificates were issued strictly in accordance with the prescribed legal procedures, technical standards, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

He also disputed the media's report which stated that No Objection Certificates (NOCs) had been issued illegally to various companies.

The spokesman said the department did not issue NOCs to any company because it followed the procedure of issuing licences strictly under the applicable laws, including The Sindh Fertilizer (Control) Act, 1994, and The Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance, 1971.

According to Kaka, only those pesticide and fertilizer distributors which fulfilled all legal requirements and prescribed regulations were duly registered across Sindh.

He explained that a high-level departmental committee conducted on-site inspections to verify the applicant company's office, warehouses, technical staff, and compliance with all other legal requirements.

The official said the department remained fully committed to safeguarding interests of farmers, ensuring the availability of quality agricultural pesticides and fertilizers, maintaining transparency, and upholding the rule of law.