Adulterated fertilisers: Punjab asks LEAs, agri authorities to act against culprits

ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government has directed law enforcement agencies and agriculture authorities to take action against all individuals involved in the production and distribution of adulterated fertilisers, rather than targeting only easily accessible retailers. The directives have been issued by the Prosecutor General Punjab in a comprehensive set of guidelines for investigation and prosecution under the Punjab Fertiliser Control Act, 2025, in compliance with a February 25, 2026, judgment of the Lahore High Court in a criminal case titled Muhammad Arshad versus the State. READ ALSO: Fake and low-quality pesticides plague Punjab, Sindh, finds CCP report 1 In its judgment, the court expressed concern that enforcement agencies were routinely implicating shopkeepers and retailers in cases involving substandard or adulterated fertilisers, while manufacturers, suppliers, and other key perpetrators remained unaccounted for due to systemic weaknesses in investigation and prosecution. Drawing parallels with cases under laws such as the Punjab Food Authority Act, 2011, Drug Act, 1976, and Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 1997, the court observed a consistent pattern where only “last link” actors—such as retailers, drivers, or carriers—were prosecuted, leaving the masterminds untouched. The court emphasized that enforcement efforts must focus on dismantling the entire network of offenders. In response, the Prosecutor General Punjab has issued detailed guidelines for strict compliance by the Agriculture Department, police investigators, and public prosecutors. Under the new framework, the Agriculture Department has been directed to ensure proper sampling, documentation, and immediate tracing of the fertiliser supply chain, including identification of manufacturers and distributors. Officials are required to collect complete records such as invoices and stock registers and coordinate closely with police and prosecution authorities. Investigating officers have been instructed to expand the scope of inquiries beyond retailers. They are now mandated to trace manufacturers, importers, and distributors, conduct raids on production units and storage facilities, and seize contaminated stock. Importantly, no investigation report or challan can be submitted without identifying the principal offenders and documenting efforts to proceed against them. The guidelines also clarify that retailers should only be treated as accused if there is credible evidence of their involvement or prior knowledge of the adulteration. Public prosecutors have been tasked with rigorously scrutinizing investigation reports to ensure that the entire supply chain has been examined. Incomplete cases focusing solely on shopkeepers are to be returned for further investigation. Prosecutors are also required to emphasize strict punishment for convicted manufacturers, highlighting the broader public health risks. The move aims to address longstanding gaps in enforcement and ensure accountability across the fertiliser supply chain. Authorities hope that the strict implementation of these guidelines will help dismantle organized networks involved in the production and distribution of substandard agricultural inputs, thereby protecting farmers and ensuring quality standards. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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