Karachi: The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat convened at the Sindh Secretariat on Thursday to evaluate issues related to cannabis regulation and research, seed development, agricultural research, NESPAK projects, and the functioning of public-sector institutions.
According to Senate of Pakistan, the meeting, chaired by Senator Rana Mehmood ul Hassan, included participation from several senators, vice chancellors of agricultural universities, and officials from the Cabinet Division. The Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (CCRA) presented its framework for regulating the cannabis and hemp sector, highlighting the need for financial and human resources. The Authority has received 75 licence applications, which are currently under review. Discussions underscored the industrial potential of hemp and cannabis in various sectors, with suggestions to enhance collaboration between agricultural universities and the Authority.
Senator Waqar Mehdi suggested involving Vice Chancellors on the Boards of Governors of cannabis research centres and proposed a sub-committee to address CCRA’s constraints. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla expressed concerns over the slow progress in developing a regulated cannabis industry, emphasizing the potential for exports.
The committee also addressed seed development, with insights from Prof. Dr. Asif Ali, Chairman of the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA). The importance of crop zoning and soil testing was highlighted to improve agricultural yields. Recommendations were made for special funding to support research at Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam.
Regarding NESPAK, the committee expressed concerns over promotion practices and directed a review of seniority-based promotions. Progress on the Hyderabad component of the K-IV Augmentation Project was acknowledged, while delays in the overall project were criticized. A sub-committee was recommended to review the mandates of public administration training institutions to improve efficiency and avoid duplication.
The committee requested updates on the progress of these discussions at the next meeting.