ISLAMABAD:On Thursday, a National Assembly panel expressed frustration over inaccurate crop production data provided by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC). The National Assembly Standing Committee on Food Security demanded an investigation into the individuals responsible for presenting these incorrect figures, as well as those who accepted the PARC’s report without scrutiny.
Committee member Rana Muhammad Hayat pointed out a significant discrepancy in the data. He explained that, on average, one “murabba” of land (equivalent to 25 acres) in Pakistan yields 1,400 maunds of sugarcane. However, PARC officials claimed that only 600 maunds are produced per murabba, which Hayat described as a blatant falsehood. “This is a disservice to the nation,” he said, calling for an investigation into the matter.
During the meeting, another committee member, MNA Moin Watto, inquired whether the government had developed a policy for purchasing wheat from farmers. The food secretary responded that a summary of the wheat policy had been submitted to the prime minister, who had formed a committee to work on the policy. This committee is currently drafting recommendations.
The food secretary further stated that no wheat would be imported this year and that neither the federal nor provincial governments would procure wheat. “The provinces currently have enough wheat reserves, and there will be no wheat shortages this year,” he confirmed. The government also plans to involve the private sector to increase wheat storage capacity.
Watto emphasized the importance of allowing farmers to sell their wheat freely. He also suggested that if wheat or potatoes were being transported to other provinces, it should be allowed to continue.
