ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (DNA):Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain Tuesday emphasized the importance of developing an export-oriented regulatory framework, noting that certification and registration requirements should facilitate rather than unnecessarily restrict the export of agricultural inputs, including seeds and pesticides.
The minister held a meeting with the President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) and stressed that achieving internationally acceptable disease-control and certification standards requires close coordination between federal and provincial governments.
They also discussed strengthening cooperation between the Ministry and the private sector for enhancing Pakistan’s agricultural exports, promoting investment, improving value addition and addressing regulatory and technical barriers affecting access to international markets.
The minister highlighted that the Prime Minister has placed strong emphasis on increasing the country’s exports, underscoring the need for coordinated efforts between government institutions and the business community to unlock Pakistan’s agricultural export potential.
The Federal Minister highlighted Pakistan’s considerable export potential in commodities such as rice, potatoes and maize, while sesame, castor bean oil and dates were also identified as products offering opportunities for further development.
The LCCI President expressed willingness to work closely with the Ministry and proposed the establishment of an Agriculture Committee within the Chamber to facilitate structured engagement on export-oriented agricultural commodities, particularly rice, livestock and other potential sectors. The Chamber also expressed interest in supporting investment in agricultural research and development.
The meeting emphasized identifying available agricultural surpluses and connecting them with suitable international markets. China, Saudi Arabia and Iran were highlighted as important markets requiring focused engagement and market-specific strategies. The participants stressed that exporters should receive effective facilitation to translate available production surpluses into actual export opportunities.
The issue of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) was discussed as a major constraint affecting Pakistan’s meat exports and access to international markets. The Federal Minister emphasized the importance of effective disease-free zoning, compartmentalization, vaccination, animal identification and traceability systems. He
The minister also highlighted the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen testing and certification capacity at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) in accordance with international and European standards. Improved laboratory facilities and credible certification systems are essential to ensure that Pakistani agricultural and food products, including rice and meat, comply with importing countries’ technical and quality requirements.
The participants agreed that internationally recognized testing and certification would play a critical role in expanding Pakistan’s agricultural exports.
The meeting also reviewed the establishment of the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) and ongoing initiatives to improve seed varieties, strengthen seed quality and enhance agricultural regulatory processes.
