The Senate Committee on National Food Security and Research unanimously passed the Pakistan Animal Science Council Bill 2023 on Tuesday and recommended launching a national campaign to reduce food losses.
Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan, one of the bill’s proponents, explained that the bill seeks to establish an apex body for key sectors of animal sciences, including livestock, dairy, and poultry, with the goal of fostering responsibility and ensuring the availability of healthy and organic food for the country’s population.
During the meeting, chaired by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, the committee discussed climate-smart agriculture and expressed dissatisfaction with the information provided by the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC). The committee recommended introducing cost-effective modern technologies to benefit small farmers.
Addressing the issue of food insecurity and low agricultural yields in the country, PARC Chairman Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali highlighted that food insecurity is primarily driven by rapid population growth, urbanization, and climate change. He noted that the country currently requires 70 million tons of food annually, with demand projected to reach 130 million tons by 2050. Alarmingly, 19.6 million tons of food are wasted at parties and hotels in the country.
The committee also expressed displeasure with the details provided by the cotton commissioner regarding the 3.5 billion cess liabilities owed by Aptma. The committee requested a comprehensive briefing on the cess dues and information on cotton varieties at its next meeting.
Dr. Tariq Khan, Director General of the Plant Protection Department, reported that in 2019-20, cotton crops covering 7,045 hectares in Khushab, Punjab, and 675 hectares in Dadu and Shaheed Benazirabad districts of Sindh were damaged. He noted that there is currently no imminent threat of locusts this season, and the department has approved 2,421 new positions to enhance its effectiveness in future threats.
Senator Aimal Wali Khan, however, suggested that the department should focus on increasing mechanical support rather than hiring 2,421 new employees, given the country’s ongoing economic challenges. The committee further recommended providing new aircraft to the department, as the ones currently in use, which date back to the 1950s, are no longer capable of fulfilling their tasks effectively.
