Food Ministry Ordered to Develop 20-Year Food Security Plan as Population Growth Threatens Crop Output

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Food Security has directed the ministry to draft a 20-year food security plan amid concerns that crop production might not be able to compensate for population growth in the next decade. Committee members urged developing a long-term plan to ensure food availability in the coming decades. Secretary National Food Security Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry briefed the committee that the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the next fiscal year would only include projects linked to the Uraan Pakistan initiative. He added that the Prime Minister had instructed the ministry to prepare a sectoral plan, which would be jointly monitored by the Planning Commission and the Prime Minister’s Office. The ministry also confirmed that Fisheries and Livestock departments are being abolished and the focus will be shifted to sectors allocated to provinces after the 18th Amendment. The committee expressed dissatisfaction over missed crop growth targets and questioned the measures being taken to address future food security. It lamented that Pakistan has spent significantly less on agriculture research compared to regional competitors. Ministry officials said 42 percent of Pakistan’s revenue comes from foreign trade, but high import taxes have discouraged investment. The ministry revealed that its development budget forward will be more than Rs. 187 billion. Officials said just Rs. 14 billion was allocated for PSDP projects worth over Rs. 201 billion. The total development budget for the current fiscal year stands at Rs. 9.92 billion, with 18 new projects proposed for the next fiscal year. Meanwhile, the committee rejected wheat production statistics presented by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC). It criticized PARC officials for reporting figures far below actual production levels and demanded an inquiry. The Food Security Secretary assured that the matter would be taken up with the Prime Minister.