The Federal Minister for National Food Security has expressed determination to completely transform the country’s premier agricultural research institution, the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC).
A joint assessment with China identified long-standing underinvestment, outdated laboratory systems and equipment, weak commercialization of research, and brain drain as the major challenges facing Pakistan’s agricultural research.
This comprehensive study was conducted by China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in collaboration with PARC. Its aim was to identify structural weaknesses in Pakistan’s agricultural research system and prepare a roadmap for institutional revival in line with global scientific standards.
The joint study reviewed the performance, infrastructure, and capacities of PARC, the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), and its 11 research institutes.
The report emphasized the need for a coordinated reform strategy to overcome these challenges, based on sustainable funding, effective performance evaluation, stronger linkages between research and farmers, and better coordination between federal and provincial research bodies.
It also highlighted that the priorities of agricultural research must be aligned with national food security, environmental resilience, and economic development goals, for which a National Agricultural Science and Technology Roadmap should be prepared.
The recommendations of the review were discussed on Friday in a high-level meeting in Islamabad, chaired by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain.
The minister announced that the government will reorganize PARC under the Strategic Reform and Cooperation Plan with China.
He said the government is fully committed to turning PARC into a modern, efficient, and innovation-driven institution capable of leading the country’s food security agenda.
Rana Tanveer Hussain praised the Chinese ministry and academy, saying they provided valuable support in developing a visionary reform roadmap for Pakistan’s agricultural research secto
