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ISLAMABAD, Dec 17 (APP): National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research met on Wednesday with Syed Tariq Hussain in chair and discussed different issues relating to agriculture sector development.
The committee also reviewed progress on the recommendations made during its 21st meeting.
During the meeting, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research briefed the committee on the sharp decline in rice exports, which have fallen to below 30 percent.
It was informed that during three meetings with the Rice Exporters Association, it was highlighted that India’s re-entry into the global rice market exporting 45–50 million tons has significantly affected Pakistan’s exports.
The meeting was told that Pakistani rice was less competitive due to higher prices, partly because India enjoys Free Trade Agreement (FTA) status and provides a 24 percent subsidy to its rice sector, said a press release.
The committee directed the Ministry to pursue FTA status on a priority basis to enhance rice exports and strengthen the national economy.
It was also decided that the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Industries would be invited to the next meeting to develop a comprehensive strategy in this regard.
The Chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) briefed the committee on his recent visit to Thatta, undertaken along with member Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Sheerazi, in line with the committee’s recommendations.
The visit aimed to directly engage with farmers and provincial authorities to identify challenges in the agricultural sector.
Key issues highlighted included lack of awareness, insufficient technical knowledge, limited access to research, and inadequate exposure to modern farming practices.
In response, the Minister directed PARC to launch weekly awareness and capacity-building programs for farmers.
These initiatives will focus on climate-smart agriculture, soil management, seed quality, crop rotation, efficient fertilizer use, and the adoption of modern agricultural technologies to improve productivity and sustainability.
Regarding Pest Risk Analysis and the fast-tracking of seed evaluation and approval, the Committee was informed that the approval timeline has been reduced from six months to three months, with further improvements underway to ensure timely access to quality seeds while maintaining regulatory standards.
The committee discussed the delegation of authority to 93 Seed Inspectors from Sindh to inspect seed dealers.
The committee recommended that such authority be linked to official designations rather than individual names to ensure continuity and long-term effectiveness.
It was further suggested that Seed Inspectors be granted comprehensive powers equivalent to those of the Federal Government under seed laws, and that additional oversight mechanisms be introduced to ensure transparency and accountability.
The committee also decided that Provincial Secretaries would provide quarterly updates on seed regulation developments through Zoom meetings.
The committee was briefed on the Government’s ongoing and future policy regarding deregulation of the sugarcane industry.
It was informed that a high-level committee headed by Federal Minister for Power Division Awais Leghari has held eight meetings and that its draft report will be presented to the committee in the next meeting.
Proposed measures include amendments to Federal and Provincial laws, lifting restrictions on new sugar mills, and retaining the Sugar Advisory Board.
The committee expressed serious concern that the Sugar Advisory Board has yet to convene its first meeting, despite the crushing season nearing its end.
Members noted with alarm that only 11 million tons of sugarcane have been crushed so far, compared to 89 million tons last year.
The delay was described as highly detrimental to farmers, as sugarcane loses weight during winter and harvested crops are reportedly not being purchased by mills in an attempt to depress prices.
The committee stressed that the government must formally announce the crushing season to prevent manipulation and monopolistic practices by sugar mills.
It further emphasized that sugar imports should only be allowed when genuinely required, and not immediately before or during the crushing season.
Highlighting that sugarcane is Pakistan’s fourth major crop, the Committee underscored the leading role of the federal government, particularly as head of the Sugar Advisory Board.
It was also noted that the minimum support price for sugarcane has not been announced for the past two years due to the IMF’s policy of zero market intervention.
The meeting was attended by members including Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan,(via Zoom); Chaudhary Iftikhar Nazir, Ms. Musarrat Asif Khawaja, Abdul Qadir Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Behan, Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani,and Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Sheerazi.
Senior officials and representatives from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Agriculture Departments of all provinces, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA), and other relevant organizations were also present.