Islamabad: The Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research held its sixth meeting today in the Parliament House under the leadership of Syed Tariq Hussain, Member of National Assembly (MNA). The Committee discussed the Seed Amendment Bill, 2024, proposed significant amendments, and addressed issues related to counterfeit seeds and taxes on cotton ginners.
According to National Assembly of Pakistan, the meeting began with the validation of minutes from previous sessions before moving on to deliberate on the Seed Amendment Bill, 2024. The Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, informed attendees that telephonic approvals from provincial governments had been obtained, paving the way for the required resolutions from provincial assemblies before the Parliament could enact the Bill.
The proposed amendments to the Bill included a change in leadership structure, with the Managing Director (MD) replacing the Chairman and the Federal Government taking over the Prime Minister’s role in appointing the MD. The Federal Minister is slated to head the Board of Governors instead of the Prime Minister, and the MD’s term would be set at three years, extendable by two years based on performance.
Further recommendations from the Committee included a clearer definition of the term “Expert,” requiring a minimum of 10 years of experience and a Master’s degree, and increasing the number of experts on the board from two to four to ensure representation from all provinces. The inclusion of the Plant Breeders Department as a Board member was also advised for improved coordination.
Financial definitions and procedures were another focus, with the Committee urging for clarity on the term “Funds” and the involvement of the Ministry of Finance in defining both local and foreign currency accounts. They advised against the Authority raising funds independently and called for the rules of business for the Authority to be established within two months following the Bill’s passage.
Addressing the issue of counterfeit seeds, the Committee recommended stringent legal penalties, including increased fines up to 2 million PKR and imprisonment up to two years. They expressed concerns over the inadequate legal actions against sellers of counterfeit seeds and the low number of companies sealed for such activities.
The Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association raised issues regarding unjust taxes by the Federal Board of Revenue, prompting the Committee to request a report from the Ministry in the next meeting. Additionally, the Department of Plant Protection was tasked with enhancing locust control in collaboration with the Special Investment Facilitation Council and addressing the non-utilization of a $200 million World Bank loan initially intended for agricultural projects.
The meeting was attended by several notable members, including Mr. Rasheed Ahmad Khan, Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan, Ms. Musarrat Asif Khawaja, Chaudhary Iftikhar Nazir, Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Sheerazi, and Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi.