KARACHI: In a significant administrative move, the Government of Pakistan has appointed Mr. Yasin Murtaza, a seasoned BS-20 officer of the Pakistan Customs Services (PCS), as the new Plant Protection Advisor and Director General of the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) in Karachi. The appointment, announced by the Cabinet Secretariat’s Establishment Division on January 2, 2026, is effective immediately.
Mr. Murtaza, known in bureaucratic circles as a highly competent and high-profile officer, brings a formidable command over his field and a reputation for effective leadership. Prior to this key posting, he served as the Director of the Directorate of Transit Trade in Gwadar, where he oversaw critical transit and trade operations, demonstrating strategic insight and administrative rigor.
His new role at the Department of Plant Protection, which operates under the National Food Security and Research Division, is considered vital for safeguarding the country’s agricultural sector. The department is responsible for regulating plant imports and exports, preventing the entry of pests and diseases, and ensuring phytosanitary standards—a role of growing importance in the context of food security and international trade compliance.
The notification, issued under Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973, underscores the government’s confidence in Mr. Murtaza’s capabilities. His appointment is seen as a strategic placement, aimed at strengthening regulatory mechanisms and enhancing the operational efficiency of the DPP.
With his proven track record in customs and transit governance, Mr. Murtaza is expected to bring robust oversight, technical expertise, and reform-oriented leadership to the plant protection framework. The order has been circulated to high-level offices including the Prime Minister’s Office, President’s Secretariat, Federal Board of Revenue, and relevant divisions, highlighting the importance attached to this appointment.
Mr. Yasin Murtaza has been directed to assume charge immediately and to submit the requisite charge assumption report to the Establishment Division.