Islamabad
The Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research convened its 17th meeting in Committee Room No. 07 of the Parliament House, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Syed Tariq Hussain, Member of the National Assembly.
The meeting commenced with a recitation from the Holy Quran, after which the minutes from the previous meeting were confirmed.
An update on the recommendations from the 16th meeting of the Standing Committee was taken.
The Committee proceeded with Agenda Item No. 3, based on a Point of Order raised by Mr. Asad Qaiser, MNA and former Speaker of the National Assembly, concerning the challenges faced by tobacco growers and the urgent need for a comprehensive policy framework to address their issues.
The Secretary of the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) briefed the Committee on actions taken in response to the Committee’s previous recommendations, which were primarily aimed at resolving long-standing challenges faced by tobacco growers.
The Committee was updated on key areas, including the current tobacco taxation policy, the framework for collection and utilization of the CESS fund over the past ten years, the PTB’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, and the potential introduction of a crop insurance scheme for tobacco growers.
It was further informed that the PTB had constituted committees to oversee CESS regulation, CSR programs, and development activities. However, the Committee raised concerns about the exclusion of tobacco growers from these bodies. Another significant issue discussed was the rejection of tobacco crop yields.
The Committee was also informed that approximately PKR 949 million allocated for research and development remains unutilized due to the vacant position of the Board’s Director. Lastly, a representative of the growers present at the meeting shared the difficult conditions faced by farmers, particularly having to wait in long queues under rainy conditions to sell their crops.
In response, the Committee directed the Ministry that representatives of tobacco growers must be included in all relevant committees, stressing that meaningful reform and facilitation measures cannot succeed without their direct involvement.
The Ministry was also instructed to expedite the appointment of all vacant posts on the PTB and its related committees so that pending development and reform initiatives could move forward without further delay.
Regarding GST and Federal Excise Duty (FED) on tobacco and cigarette, collected over the past five years, the FBR was asked to provide a comprehensive update in the next Committee meeting.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) informed the Committee that, in line with the Committee’s earlier directives, General Sales Tax (GST) would now be imposed on imported cotton. This long-awaited step aims to create parity between imported and locally produced cotton.
It was further stated that the relevant Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) would be issued the following Tuesday, and the policy would come into effect from August 15, 2025, with GST collected at the import stage.
This move is expected to stabilize prices for domestic cotton and support local growers. Expressing gratitude, the Chairman Committee acknowledged the role each Committee Member played in advancing the interests of cotton growers, attributing the success to their coordinated and sustained efforts.
The Committee also decided to take up the issue of the rising sugar prices in local markets in its next meeting, stressing the need to investigate the causes behind the price hike and explore possible measures for market stabilization and consumer relief.
Furthermore, the Committee held a detailed discussion on reports of donkey meat being sold in Islamabad, expressing serious concern over the public health risks and regulatory negligence involved. The Ministry was instructed to take up the issue with the relevant authority and report back in the next meeting.
During the presentation by Crop Life Pakistan, it was conveyed that the organization’s mission is to support farmers in producing enough food to meet the needs of a growing population through access to innovative agricultural technologies.
The Committee was briefed on Crop Life Pakistan’s research and development initiatives, its scope of work, contributions to the seed sector, as well as the challenges faced, available opportunities, and potential solutions.
The solution to many of the agriculture sector’s challenges was identified as the adoption to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), integrated pest management, robotics and digital farming, gene editing, seed and biotechnology policies, improved soil and water management, crop protection, and climate-resilient seeds.
These innovations are seen as crucial to boost productivity, ensuring food security, and build resilience against climate change.
However, the sector faces significant obstacles including insufficient research and development, restrictive import policies, delays in import permits, and a lack of access to advanced genetics and biotechnology. Additionally, the government’s hesitation to embrace GMOs citing potential health concerns has further slowed progress.
In that regard, the Ministry informed the Committee that the Biotechnology Policy is finalized and ready to be submitted for approval to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Committee asked that a copy of the policy be shared with them within the next 10 days. Additionally, the Committee emphasized the importance of the Seed Policy, which has been pending with the Ministry for a considerable time, and urged that it also be forwarded for approval to the Prime Minister’s Office at the earliest.
The meeting was attended by the following Honorable Members of the Standing Committee: Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan, MNA; Mr. Nadeem Abbas, MNA; Mr. Waseem Qadir, MNA (via Zoom); Ms. Musarrat Asif Khawaja, MNA (via Zoom); Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Behan, MNA; Mr. Muhammad Ameer Sultan, MNA; Mr. Nazir Ahmed Bhugio, MNA; Syed Abrar Ali Shah, MNA; Mr. Usman Ali, MNA; Mr. Abdul Qadir Khan, MNA (via Zoom); and Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Sheerazi, MNA.
Senior officials and representatives from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Crop Life Pakistan, and other relevant departments also participated in the meeting.
