On Monday, February 23, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., the Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research convened its 24th meeting in Committee Room No. 7, Parliament House, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Syed Tariq Hussain, Member of the National Assembly. The session began with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by the approval of the minutes from the previous meeting.

 

The Committee deliberated on a Point of Order raised in the House regarding the ongoing potato crop crisis. Members were informed that, in compliance with the Committee’s earlier recommendations, a High-Level Committee had been constituted on 18 February 2026 by the Hon. Prime Minister of Pakistan, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, to address the issue in a coordinated and time-bound manner. A subsequent meeting, chaired by Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for National Food Security and Research, involved consultations with relevant stakeholders, resulting in comprehensive recommendations to resolve the crisis. These recommendations have been finalized and are currently awaiting approval from the Deputy Prime Minister, who is expected to return to Pakistan tomorrow.

 

The Committee was apprised that the crisis is largely driven by overproduction, with this year’s potato output reaching approximately 12 million metric tons, compared to an average of 8–10 million metric tons in previous years, leaving a surplus of nearly 4 million metric tons. It was noted that Central Asia, accessible via Afghanistan, represents the most viable export market, with an estimated potential of 1 million metric tons annually. However, approximately 3 million metric tons are unlikely to find export avenues due to limited international demand, long and costly transportation routes, border closures, inadequate cold storage and warehousing facilities, and insufficient value addition and processing capacity. These structural challenges undermine efforts to manage the surplus and stabilize domestic market prices for farmers.

 

Specific transit constraints were highlighted: shipments via the Taftan border (Iran) take around 23 days, raising transportation costs and spoilage risk, while the China route is shorter 15 days but constrained by visa limitations, as only single-entry visas are currently issued instead of the required multiple-entry permits. Members stressed that February and March constitute the peak harvest season, and delays in export facilitation would significantly reduce commercial viability.

The Committee expressed concern over the recurring nature of agricultural crises, noting that similar challenges have affected rice, wheat, sugarcane, and now potatoes. Members emphasized that these crises reflect systemic weaknesses in planning, coordination, and market forecasting within the agricultural sector. Proactive measures, including timely crop planning, accurate production forecasting, enhanced market intelligence, improved storage and value-addition capacity, and early identification of export opportunities, were recommended to prevent repeated financial distress for farmers.

 

To mitigate the current crisis, the Committee recommended that Provincial Governments procure surplus potatoes for storage in cold facilities to sell later in domestic and international markets, preventing distress sales. Alternatively, a wheat-support-like model was proposed, where private banks provide loans for cold storage of excess produce, with the government covering the markup. These measures aim to stabilize prices, provide immediate relief to farmers, and prevent forced sales at reduced rates. The Ministry is scheduled to meet with the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) this week to review procurement and logistics issues, with participation from Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan, former MNA.

 

The Committee also reviewed and approved the following PSDP 2026–2027 projects of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, with a total investment of PKR 16,943.9 million, including PKR 4,050 million in foreign grants. These projects aim to strengthen Pakistan’s agricultural, livestock, and agro-industrial sectors and include: Strengthening the Olive Value Chain Phase III; Digital and Precision Agriculture Mechanization Facility at NARC; THAR CAMELL for sustainable resource and livelihood management; High-Value Camel Milk Powder development; Controlled Atmosphere Storage Facility in Gilgit-Baltistan; Agri-Food Laboratory Standards and Accreditation Network; National Bio-Fertilizer and Composting Program; Seed Potato Production and Supply Centre; Crop Diversification and Import Substitution Program (Oilseeds); Cotton Development in Balochistan; Climate-Resilient Rangeland and Livestock Development in Arid Regions; Value Addition in Livestock Products (Wool, Hair & Mohair) in GB & AJK; and the establishment of Research Center at Khairpur, Sindh. Collectively, these projects aim to enhance productivity, promote sustainability, support rural livelihoods, and boost foreign exchange earnings.

 

The meeting was attended by the Honorable Members of the Standing Committee, including Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan, MNA; Waseem Qadir, MNA; Nazir Ahmed Bhugio, MNA; Zulfiqar Ali Behan, MNA; Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani, MNA; and Syed Abrar Ali Shah, MNA.

 

Senior officials and representatives from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Ministry of Commerce, Agriculture Department of Punjab, Department of Plant Protection, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), and other relevant departments, along with Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan, Former MNA, were also in attendance.