Regulatory body needed for pest control industry: experts

KARACHI:

Experts at a recent workshop on urban pest management called for the creation of a government regulatory body to oversee the neglected pest control industry. They argue that such a body would lead to the training of industry professionals and the provision of better services across the country.

Speakers highlighted the central role that trained pest control professionals could play in preventing property damage, safeguarding public health and safeguarding business reputations while complying with the necessary rules and regulations.

Organized by the Pakistan Pest Management Association (PPMA) in collaboration with the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council – Southern Zone Agricultural Research Center (PARC-SARC), the workshop was attended by many pest technicians, representatives of pest control companies and students from the University’s Department of Agriculture of Karachi (KU).

Dr Zakir Hussain Dahri, Director General of PARC-SARC Karachi, stressed the urgent need for a regulatory authority to issue licenses exclusively to professional pest control companies. He emphasized the importance of professional training in the pest management industry for pest technicians.

He noted, “it is time that instead of allowing anyone to act as a pest control agency, only PPMA members are allowed to provide these services. In the absence of a government regulator, the PPMA effectively acts as a regulatory body.’

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Ashraf Sattar Adamjee, Chairman, PPMA, welcomed the recognition of PPMA as the primary body for registration of pest control companies in the country. He emphasized that this recognition encourages both the public and private sectors to partner with association members for pest control services.

Shoaib Noor, PPMA Senior Vice President, shared future plans, including integrated pest management (IPM) programs planned for November in collaboration with the KU Department of Agriculture. He also indicated the intention to conduct training of pest technicians in urban pest management in Islamabad in December with the support of National Agricultural Research Center (NARC)-PARC.

PPMA leaders who made presentations pointed out that Pakistan’s pest control industry has been neglected since 1947, with government authorities showing little interest. They pointed out that the PPMA was created to conduct the affairs of the pest control industry in a statutory manner, ensuring the protection of public health, food, property and the environment. The main objective of the PPMA is to establish professional standards in the local pest control industry.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^St2023.

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