The Department of Plant Protection (DPP) (Urdu: محکمہ تحفظِ نباتات ، پاکستان was a department of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research of the Government of Pakistan. In 2025, it was replaced by the National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority.

It worked under the following pieces of legislation and regulation of the Government of Pakistan: (i) Plant Quarantine Act 1976 (ii) Agricultural Pesticide Rules and (iii) Agricultural Pesticide Ordinance.

The Department consisted of the following four divisions and wings:

  • Plant Quarantine
  • Pesticide Registration
  • Locust Control and Survey
  • Aerial Wing

In addition, the Department also operates the following two laboratories:

  • Central Plant Quarantine Lab
  • Federal Pesticide Testing and Reference Lab

Executives

  • Federal Minister
  • Federal Secretary
  • Director General Tahir Abbas (former)
  • Chief Pilot Capt. Muhammad Zaman Cheema (former)

Controversy

Corruption and mismanagement

Department of Plant Protection functioning without permanent director general since 1998 and inflicting heavy losses on the economy. Mr. Muhammad Sohail Shahzad. Deputy Director (Quarantine) and DR. Syed Waseem-ul-Hassan, Deputy Food Security Commissioner are under intense pressure after their corruption stories surfaced in 2018.

External links