Aurangzeb chairs maiden meeting of PM’s committee reviewing GM maize commercialization

ISLAMABAD, Jul 16 (APP): Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday chaired the inaugural meeting of the Prime Minister’s Committee on Genetically Modified (GM) Corn, directing members to undertake an objective, science-based and evidence-driven review of Pakistan’s policy on the commercialization of genetically modified maize.

The committee, constituted by the prime minister, has been tasked with examining the scientific, economic and policy dimensions of commercializing GM maize and formulating recommendations in Pakistan’s long-term national interest, a news release said.

Opening the meeting, the finance minister said the committee had been entrusted with a focused mandate to objectively assess all available scientific evidence, economic implications and policy considerations.

He stressed that deliberations should remain factual, balanced and evidence-based while ensuring that the views of all relevant stakeholders are fully taken into account before final recommendations are prepared.

The Ministry of National Food Security and Research gave a detailed briefing on the National Agricultural Biotechnology Policy, outlining its formulation process, international regulatory practices, scientific assessments and the committee’s terms of reference.

Participants were informed that the policy had undergone an extensive consultative process involving relevant stakeholders prior to its approval.

The meeting reviewed global scientific evidence on the commercialization of GM maize, including international regulatory frameworks, biosafety evaluations and coexistence mechanisms adopted in countries producing both GM and non-GM maize.

Members also discussed the technology’s potential contribution to higher agricultural productivity, climate resilience, farmer welfare, food security, industrial competitiveness and recent advances in agricultural biotechnology.

The committee further examined the possible economic implications of commercializing GM maize, including domestic demand, requirements of Pakistan’s poultry, livestock and industrial sectors, export prospects and considerations related to non-GM export markets.

Participants also discussed international trade practices, certification systems, supply chain management and measures to facilitate the coexistence of GM and non-GM production systems where appropriate.

Representatives from government institutions, regulatory bodies, the private sector, exporters and industry shared their perspectives on the potential benefits, implementation challenges, regulatory preparedness, export-related issues and international market requirements associated with GM maize commercialization.

Senator Aurangzeb reiterated that the committee’s recommendations must be firmly grounded in scientific evidence, objective analysis and Pakistan’s long-term national interest.

While emphasizing the importance of policy consistency, he said the committee had been constituted to independently review the available evidence and carefully evaluate all relevant viewpoints before submitting its recommendations.

The finance minister observed that agriculture remained central to Pakistan’s economic transformation and sustainable growth. He stressed the need to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen food security and enhance farmers’ incomes through evidence-based policies and the responsible adoption of modern technologies.

He added that implementation capacity, regulatory preparedness, environmental safeguards and market access considerations should remain integral components of the country’s policy framework.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the public and private sectors, including the Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Agriculture and Food Security, the Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Green Initiative, members of the business and export sectors, as well as technical and scientific experts.