Islamabad:
The Federal Food Minister, Rana Tanveer Hussain, revealed on Thursday an alleged corruption in the Storage Corporation and Agricultural Services of Pakistan (Passco), which amounted to around RS1 billion.
During a meeting of the Permanent Senate Committee on National Security of Food Security, held under the presidency of Masroor Ahsan, Hussain confirmed that corruption really occurred in Passco.
“That is why the government is considering establishing a basic products as an alternative institution,” he added. The minister also declared that wheat production this year reached 29 million metric tons, being below the objective of 33 million metric tons.
He expressed concern that open market wheat policy could benefit intermediaries, and if farmers do not receive fair compensation for their crops, wheat cultivation could be negatively affected next year.
Baluchistan Danish Kumar Senator expressed concern about the deteriorated state of wheat, warning that if the harvest is wasted, it could become an important scandal. The Federal Minister clarified that, although a part of the harvest was affected, most of the wheat was still safe.
Hussain also mentioned continuous efforts to improve seed quality. He said that measures have been taken against those involved in the sale of false seeds. He said that hybrid seeds are being imported, while local seed production is also underway.
The minister admitted that there is a serious shortage of labor in the Ministry of Food with available resources operating at less than 50% capacity. He said that the agricultural sector of Pakistan still depends on obsolete systems, while neighboring countries have progressed significantly.
The meeting also discussed the appointment of the President of the Agricultural Research Council of Pakistan (PARC), internal policy within the institution and Pakistan’s position in smart agriculture.
