On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 11:00 AM, the Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research convened its 19th 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 18th meeting of the Standing Committee was taken.

 

The Committee deferred the Point of Order raised by Mr. Asad Qaiser, MNA and former Speaker of the National Assembly, concerning the issues faced by tobacco growers and the urgent need for a policy framework, as he was not present at the meeting.

 

In view of the significance of tobacco as a crop, the Committee reiterated its earlier recommendation that it should be accorded due importance. It emphasized that both farmers and companies involved in the tobacco sector must be provided adequate protection by the Ministry. The Committee stressed the need for enhanced research and development, particularly in seed development, utilizing the funds collected by the Pakistan Tobacco Board in collaboration with tobacco companies.

Tobacco companies present during the meeting were asked to submit, in writing, their key issues along with proposed solutions. The Committee was informed that solar-powered processing technologies, as previously suggested, are not entirely feasible due to the specific requirements of the tobacco curing process. However, there may be potential for combining solar with direct electricity as an alternative.

 

Furthermore, the Committee directed the Pakistan Tobacco Board to present an update in the next meeting regarding the price difference between flavored tobacco and fillers in the local and international markets. The Ministry was also asked to take effective measures to curb tobacco smuggling in coordination with other relevant departments.

 

The Committee recommended that the Ministry to allocate a specific portion of the Pakistan Tobacco Board’s funds for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, focusing on the welfare and development of tobacco-growing areas. Additionally, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) provided the Committee with details of the Federal Excise Duty (FED) and CESS collected from tobacco over the past five years.

 

The provincial governments, through their Agriculture Departments, were engaged via Zoom to discuss the enforcement of seed-related regulations. The Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research reported that enforcement authority had been delegated to the provinces; however, apart from Punjab, most provinces have been hesitant to act. The Committee expressed serious concern over the absence of provincial secretaries during this crucial discussion and called for enhanced coordination between the federal and provincial governments to ensure more effective enforcement.

 

The Chairman of the Committee, addressing the issue of soaring sugar prices and shortages, asked the Ministry to submit information on the prices at which sugar was exported and imported back into the country.

 

Highlighting the risk of farmers abandoning staple crops for more lucrative options, the Committee recommended that the Ministry announce intervention or minimum support prices for major crops to maintain market stability. The Minister aligned with the Committee’s view and committed to engaging the IMF for necessary approvals. The Minister informed the Committee that the minimum support price for wheat is expected to be announced soon, following the Ministry’s successful acquisition of the required approval.

 

The Committee asked the Ministry to provide a factual update at the next meeting on the damage caused by recent floods to agricultural crops.

 

The Ministry briefed the Committee on the National Agriculture Biotechnology Policy (NABP) 2025, emphasizing that its implementation is essential to address the challenges posed by a growing population and the impacts of climate change. The strategic focus areas of NABP-2025 include Conventional Biotechnology, Genetically Modified (GM) Crops, New Plant Breeding Tools, and the export/import of Genetically Modified Commodities.

 

The Committee expressed concern over Pakistan's decline in crop yields despite continued efforts, especially when compared to regional countries that are consistently increasing their agricultural productivity. In response, the Ministry explained that this difference is largely due to other countries embracing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), while Pakistan has remained hesitant. The reluctance stems from concerns over potential adverse effects on human health and the environment, as well as ethical considerations many other countries also oppose GMOs due to the belief that interfering with natural processes carries inherent risks.

 

The Committee recommended that the Ministry to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken regarding the potential side effects of biotechnology, while also considering the long-term implications for crop sustainability and the risk of export rejections. It emphasized the need for comprehensive safety and regulatory guidelines, leaving no loopholes in the policy that could be exploited. The Committee further recommended that clearance from the Bio-Safety Committee be made mandatory for all related initiatives.

 

The Committee asked the Secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to submit the Phase II feasibility report of NABP 2025 at the next meeting.

 

The following Honorable Members of the Standing Committee attended the meeting: Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan, MNA; Mr. Nadeem Abbas, MNA; Chaudhary Iftikhar Nazir, MNA; Mr. Abdul Qadir Khan, MNA; Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Behan, MNA (via Zoom); Mr. Usman Ali, MNA; Mr. Nazir Ahmed Bughio, MNA; Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani, MNA (via Zoom); and Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Sheerazi, MNA.

 

Senior officials and representatives from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA), tobacco companies, growers, and other relevant departments were also in attendance.