Pakistan Agricultural Research Council Reform Process Accelerated

Islamabad: The reform and transformation process of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) has been accelerated under the leadership of Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain.

In this regard, a high-level working group constituted for the transformation of PARC conducted a comprehensive visit to the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) and reviewed its research facilities, advanced technologies and ongoing programmes.

The working group comprises Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Agriculture and Food Security Ahmed Umair, Professor Emeritus and former Vice Chancellor of LUMS Lahore Dr. Syed Zahoor Hassan, and former Agriculture Secretary of the Government of Punjab Rana Naseem Ahmed.

The working group visited the laboratories of the National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), IoT-based smart greenhouse, Korea Aeroponics Complex, Fisheries and Livestock Research Station, National Gene Bank, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Engineering Institute, Speed Breeding Facility, Land Resources Research Institute, Crop Diseases Research Institute, Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Food Science Research Institute and Animal Health Programme.

The delegation was given detailed briefings on agricultural biotechnology, genomics, smart agriculture, aeroponics, conservation of genetic resources, horticulture, agricultural mechanisation, speed breeding, food safety, pesticide residue testing, food science, livestock, fisheries and diagnosis of animal diseases.

Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said the transformation of PARC aims to make agricultural research modern, farmer-oriented and results-driven, while ensuring that national food security remains one of the core objectives of agricultural research.

He said research must be transferred from laboratories to fields and scientific innovation should be converted into practical solutions for farmers, increased agricultural productivity and improved farm incomes.

The minister stressed the need for greater focus on modern agricultural technologies, climate-resilient agriculture, improved crop varieties, agricultural mechanisation, biotechnology and value addition to enhance Pakistan’s agricultural competitiveness.

He directed that PARC’s research priorities should be aligned with emerging challenges, market requirements and national food security needs, while coordination between research institutions and relevant stakeholders should also be strengthened.

Rana Tanveer Hussain said the government was committed to transforming PARC into an effective national centre for agricultural research, innovation, technology and the practical application of research.

The working group also reviewed the institutional capacity, research activities and outcomes of various institutions operating under NARC. As part of the ongoing transformation process, the group will formulate recommendations to improve governance, research priorities, innovation, commercialisation of research and technology transfer.