Islamabad
The Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research met today at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of MNA Syed Tariq Hussain to review key agricultural challenges, including seed shortages, olive farming potential, and fertilizer price hikes.
The Committee was informed that only Punjab had implemented seed regulation enforcement, while other provinces were yet to respond. The Ministry was directed to issue letters to provincial agriculture secretaries, requiring responses within 15 days. The Committee also addressed a severe seed shortage in Balochistan, directing the Ministry to convene a joint meeting of Punjab and Balochistan officials to resolve supply issues.
Expressing concern over the lack of progress on establishing a joint research center between PARC and Khairpur University, the Committee reconstituted a Sub-Committee under MNA Syed Javed Ali Shah to follow up on implementation.
The Committee recommended fixing minimum support prices for sugarcane and other major crops to protect farmers and noted concerns about delayed sugarcane procurement by mills. The Minister assured that agreements with mill owners would ensure timely and fair purchases, and that government-supported storage loan schemes had been launched.
Discussing the wheat situation, officials confirmed that adequate buffer stocks were available through PASSCO for provincial procurement and that the current minimum support price would remain intact despite IMF objections.
On tobacco sector concerns, the Committee directed the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to address farmers’ grievances regarding rejections of lower-grade produce and to ensure transparency in CSR spending through annual third-party audits.
In a detailed briefing on Pakistan’s olive sector, the Committee was informed that Pakistan hosts around seven million olive trees and enjoys a 28% yield rate—much higher than the global average. The government’s Pak Olive Project aims to achieve self-sufficiency by 2030 through subsidized saplings, intercropping promotion, and digital outreach for investment. However, the Committee highlighted challenges such as inadequate post-harvest infrastructure, limited farmer training, and weak market access, recommending stronger public-private partnerships, zoning updates, and national branding initiatives.
The Committee also expressed concern over rising fertilizer prices, with DAP and urea now costing between Rs. 12,000 and Rs. 15,000 per bag, urging government intervention to ease the burden on farmers. The Minister informed that a review meeting on fertilizer imports and pricing was scheduled shortly.
The issue of irregular transfers and promotions within PARC was also raised. The Ministry assured that all transfer orders and promotions would be reviewed and corrected where necessary.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan, Nadeem Abbas, Chaudhary Iftikhar Nazir, Abdul Qadir Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Behan, Usman Ali, Nazir Ahmed Bughio, Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani, Syed Abrar Ali Shah, and Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Sheerazi, along with senior officials from the Ministry, PARC, FBR, NSDRA, and relevant agriculture and industry representatives.
