Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday called for action on bringing genetically modified corn to the market.
Aurangzeb chaired a government committee meeting in Islamabad on Monday to review Pakistan’s policy on genetically modified maize and discuss the framework needed to introduce it commercially.
The committee reached agreement on the way forward and decided to finalize a detailed plan for the transition and implementation of genetically modified corn.
The proposed approach would allow genetically modified and conventional corn to coexist. The committee discussed safeguards for both, along with the availability of non-GM seeds, transition timelines and measures to prevent unnecessary increases in seed prices.
Representatives from the industry raised concerns about the transition period, the supply of non-GM seeds and the potential impact on existing businesses. The committee said the shift would take place gradually, giving affected stakeholders time to adapt.
Aurangzeb stressed that the exercise should not end with policy formulation. He called for effective implementation, realistic timelines and an orderly transition without delays.
The committee also discussed steps to improve agricultural productivity, including greater use of technology and upgrades to harvesting, storage and related infrastructure.
The government will now finalize the comprehensive implementation and transition framework before the recommendations are sent to the relevant authorities for execution.
The meeting included officials from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the Prime Minister’s agriculture and food-security team, the Pakistan Green Initiative, business and export sectors, as well as seed industry representatives, academics and technical experts.
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