Experts at a recent workshop on urban pest management have called for the establishment of a government regulatory body to oversee the long-neglected pest control industry. They argue that such a body would lead to the training of professionals in the field and the delivery of better services across the country.
The speakers highlighted the pivotal role that trained pest control professionals could play in preventing property damage, ensuring public health, and safeguarding the reputation of businesses, all while adhering to the necessary rules and regulations.
The workshop, organised by the Pakistan Pest Management Association (PPMA) in collaboration with the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council - Southern Zone Agricultural Research Centre (PARC-SARC), was attended by numerous pest technicians, representatives of pest control companies, and students from the University of Karachi’s (KU) Department of Agriculture.
Dr Zakir Hussain Dahri, Director-General of PARC-SARC Karachi, emphasised the urgent need for a regulatory authority that would issue licenses exclusively to professional pest control companies. He underscored the importance of professional training in the pest management industry for pest technicians.
He noted, “It is high time that instead of allowing anyone to operate as a pest control operator, only members of PPMA should be permitted to provide these services. In the absence of a government regulatory authority, PPMA is effectively functioning as the regulatory body.”
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Ashraf Sattar Adamjee, President of PPMA, expressed his satisfaction with the recognition of PPMA as a prime body for registering pest control companies in the country. He emphasised that this recognition encourages both public and private sectors to engage with the association’s members for pest control services.
Shoaib Noor, Senior Vice President of PPMA, shared future plans, including Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs scheduled for November in collaboration with KU’s Department of Agriculture. He also mentioned the intention to conduct pest technician training in urban pest management in Islamabad in December with the support of the National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC)-PARC.
The PPMA leaders delivering presentations pointed out that the Pakistan Pest Control Industry has been neglected since 1947, with government authorities showing minimal interest. They highlighted that the PPMA was formed to run the affairs of the pest control industry in an institutionalised manner, ensuring the protection of public health, food, property, and the environment. The PPMA’s main objective is to establish professional standards in the local pest control industry.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2023.
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