The recent episode of Pakistan sending expired products to Sri Lanka has recalled past incidents of the country sending used or expired food items, medicines, and agricultural products to various countries. Pakistan High Commission shared a photo of the delivered relief packages to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka on social media. However, netizens were too quick to find that the labels on the packages showed they had expired about a year ago.[1] Pakistan High Commission deleted the photos even as the country claimed that the material inside was fresh, even though the labels showed the expiry date was over.[2][3]
Pakistan faced embarrassment when the relief material it sent to earthquake-shaken Turkey in 2023 turned out to be the same material that Turkey had sent to it a year ago. They even carried the tags ‘Govt of Sindh’ and ‘Govt of Pakistan.’ On being opened, it emerged that they were the same packets that Turkey had sent as a token of love after the floods. The same had been repackaged and sent as relief,” reported Pakistani scribe Shahid Masood.[4]
Afghanistan has banned the imports of “substandard” medicine, which Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Baradar said damaged the country’s health sector and economic stability. “Our health sector’s main problem is the import of low-quality medicines from Pakistan,” he said.[5] The supply of substandard and counterfeit medicines from Pakistan to Afghanistan became a major issue when several deaths were reported in 2015. “The market is full of low-quality or fake medicines,” Khushal Tasal of NGO Afghan Doctors’ and Medical Professionals’ Association had said.[6]
Due to a lack of border scrutiny, testing resources and control systems, the supply of illegal and substandard medicine was rampant, as per the Afghanistan Food and Drugs Authority (AFDA). “Anecdote evidence shows that huge amounts of medicine manufactured illegally on the other sides of borders exclusively for export to Afghanistan. Pakistan may have illicit producers specifically targeting the Afghan market with their pharmaceutical supply,” it said.[7] In 2024, Afghanistan sent back 42,000 imported bottles of substandard quality cough syrup to Pakistan.[8]
The European Union has termed the basmati rice from Pakistan to the Netherlands dangerous after the imported consignment was found to be contaminated with Genetically Modified rice.[9] In 2025, the Netherlands flagged the rice from Pakistan due to the presence of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a mycotoxin, which is dangerous for the liver and classified as a proven carcinogen for humans.[10] Lack of adequate food-safety measures and regulatory supervision in Pakistan has been identified as a major reason for the export of contaminated food commodities.[11]
Europe intercepted several rice consignments from Pakistan due to pesticide residues and aflatoxins exceeding permissible limits earlier in 2025.[12] Despite concerns by the EU and local farmers, the contaminated supply from Pakistan continued, resulting in the European countries blocking 104 consignments from Pakistan in March 2025.[13]
Russia issued a stern warning to Pakistan over the supply of infected rice. Russian authorities found the presence of an insect, Megaselia scalaris, in the consignment of rice imported from Pakistan. Moscow asked Pakistan to take measures to prevent violations of prescribed phytosanitary requirements, so that further imports are not banned.[14] Notably, Pakistan faced Russian bans on rice imports twice – in 2007 and 2019—due to the presence of the Khapra beetle.[15][16]
Mango from Pakistan also became infamous in foreign countries since the exported fruit was diagnosed with infections in many countries, including Iran, Australia, and EU members, as exported mangoes did not undergo the required Hot Water Treatment (HWT). Blaming Pakistani inspection agencies for negligence, a Pakistani exporter said “Around here, certificates are being distributed without any actual treatment. Truckers are loading mangoes directly from farms for shipment to Iran, claiming they already have the necessary paperwork.”[17]
END.
[1] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/bankrupt-pakistan-sends-expired-aid-to-cyclone-hit-sri-lanka-faces-massive-backlash-after-netizens-point-at-photos/articleshow/125714991.cms?from=mdr
[2] https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/aiims-trained-neurologist-says-stroke-paralysis-can-be-reversed-but-theres-a-catch-101765533077896.html
[3] https://theprint.in/diplomacy/flood-relief-diplomacy-gone-wrong-pakistan-ships-expired-food-aid-to-sri-lanka/2796329/
[4] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-sent-repackaged-turkish-flood-aid-as-earthquake-relief/articleshow/98047694.cms#:~:text=The%20revelation%20stuns%20the%20woman,This%20is%20so%20shameful
[5] Read more at: https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/afghanistan-pakistan-medicine-ban-trade-independence-rev7jv1h
[6] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/07/counterfeit-medicine-afghanistan-corruption-border-controls-drugs-poor
[7] https://www.afda.gov.af/index.php/en/afghanistan-food-and-drugs-authority-afda
[8] https://pajhwok.com/2024/07/23/low-quality-syrup-bottles-from-pakistan-denied-entry-into-khost/
[9] https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2024/08/08/gmo-contamination-in-pakistani-rice-shipment-alarms-export-circles/#:~:text=The%20European%20Commission%E2%80%99s%20notification%20revealed,due%20to%20unauthorized%20GMO%20presence
[10] https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/790481
[11] https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2024/10/02/government-forms-inquiry-committee-for-rice-export-issues-is-it-necessary/#:~:text=Industry%20experts%20argue%20that%20food,underscoring%20the%20DPP’s%20personnel%20crisis.
[12] https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2025/03/05/eu-continues-to-intercept-pakistani-rice-shipments-over-safety-violations/
[13] https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/europe-rejects-substandard-pakistani-rice-eu-blocks-104-consignments/
[14] https://www.dawn.com/news/1828713
[15] https://www.brecorder.com/news/3374192/russia-to-ban-pakistani-rice-imports-due-to-pest-20070315538418
[16] https://www.foodbusinessafrica.com/russia-allows-import-of-pakistani-rice-after-a-2-year-ban/
[17] https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2025/06/30/unchecked-mango-shipments-raise-concerns-over-phytosanitary-violations/
