ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, chaired by Syed Tariq Hussain, MNA, met on Wednesday to review key agricultural issues, including rising fertilizer prices, interprovincial seed shortages, and measures to safeguard farmers’ interests ahead of the next crop season.
Officials from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) informed the Committee that only Punjab had so far enforced seed quality regulations through its agriculture extension department, while other provinces had yet to take necessary action. The Committee directed the Ministry to issue reminders to provincial agriculture secretaries and demanded compliance reports within 15 days.
The Secretary of Agriculture, Balochistan, informed the Committee that the Punjab Seed Corporation was not supplying seed to the province. The Director General of the Federal Seed Certification Department confirmed a severe shortage, with only 4,000 metric tonnes available against a demand of 68,000 metric tonnes. The Committee instructed the MNFSR Secretary to convene an urgent meeting with the provincial secretaries of Punjab and Balochistan to resolve the issue and submit a report.
Expressing dissatisfaction over delays in establishing the proposed joint research center between PARC and Khairpur University, the Committee decided to form a sub-committee to monitor progress, appointing Syed Javed Ali Shah as convener and MNAs Syed Abrar Ali Shah, Zulfiqar Ali Behan, and Nazir Ahmed Bughio as members.
The Committee recommended introducing minimum support prices for sugarcane and other major crops to protect farmers from exploitation. Members expressed concern that delayed sugarcane procurement by mills was driving down prices and discouraging crop rotation. The Minister assured the Committee that an agreement with sugar mill owners would ensure timely and fair purchases, adding that the government was facilitating farmers through bank-supported storage financing schemes.
The members also voiced serious concern over the rising cost of fertilizers, particularly DAP and urea, whose prices have increased from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 per bag. The Committee urged the government to intervene to protect farmers from excessive costs. The Minister informed the Committee that a meeting was scheduled within two days to review fertilizer import data and explore mechanisms to align domestic prices with import costs.
Officials confirmed that the government maintains sufficient wheat buffer stocks, which are available to provinces for procurement through PASSCO. The Committee was told that the current minimum support price for wheat, introduced through its efforts, would remain intact despite objections from international lenders.
On the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending by tobacco companies, the Committee was informed that only two companies had submitted data. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agriculture Department reported that companies purchase only premium-quality tobacco, rejecting lower-grade produce due to poor storage and weather conditions — a concern also acknowledged by the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB). The Committee directed the PTB and the KPK government to jointly address the matter, ensure transparency in CSR spending, and conduct annual third-party evaluations.
A briefing on Pakistan’s olive sector revealed that while the country has about 7 million olive trees compared to 800 million worldwide, its yield rate of 28% far exceeds the global average of 6–7%. Officials highlighted that government programs like the Pak Olive Project aim to achieve self-sufficiency in olive oil by 2030, with cultivation already spread across 131 districts. However, members noted persistent challenges such as limited post-harvest infrastructure, weak farmer training, and restricted market access. The Committee recommended updating olive zoning clusters, encouraging private investment, strengthening farmer capacity, and developing a certification and branding framework to attract global buyers.
The Committee also raised concerns over irregular postings and promotions in the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), including the transfer of junior officers to senior positions and class-IV employees to distant locations. The Ministry assured that the issue was being reviewed and corrective action would be taken 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 MNFSR, FBR, PARC, NSDRA, and other relevant departments.
