Ministry of Food Security & Research is required to implement Seed Rules-2015 for biotech product registrations in its letter and spirit to bring agricultural biotechnology to Pakistani farmers for improved productivity. Experts told Business Recorder that the scientists believe that biotechnology can play an important role in improving agricultural productivity and food security in the country. The true implementation of Biosafety Rules & Guidelines can give great impetus to researches in agricultural biotechnology. However, there a dire need from Ministry of Food Security & Research to implement Seed Rules for biotech product registrations in its letter and spirit to bring technologies to our farmers for improved productivity. Development in this field will help to utilize the human resource being developed in our universities.

In Pakistan, Biotechnology has been part of the Mid Term Development Framework of the Planning Commission of Pakistan. Billions of rupees have been spent over the last many years through HEC, Ministry of Science & Technology and Ministry of Agriculture for developing the infrastructure and capacity for undertaking R&D in Biotechnology, especially related to agriculture and health in various universities and R&D institutes. They said that several hundred young researchers were sent abroad to various international universities for research degrees in this field. At present hundreds of scientists and researchers are working in various universities and R&D institutes in Pakistan.

It is estimated that there are over 30 centers of Biotechnology working across the country. These centers are in the public sector and are at different stages of development. The ones in the universities have been essentially involved in the development of human resource whereas some have reached a stage where they have some deliverable products, they highlighted.

Most of the achievements are in the area of agricultural biotechnology. This was possible after the establishment of Biosafety Rules and Guidelines incorporated in the Environment Protection Act in 2005. The Biosafety Rules and Guidelines comprise of three tiers, namely Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and National Biosafety Committee (NBC). All institutions, both public and private involved in R&D in Biotechnology, are required to establish IBC which is responsible for giving clearance for initiating research according to the Biosafety Guidelines. It is estimated that currently over50 IBCs belonging to both private and public sector are working, experts referred to biotech institutions.

While other countries are using latest technologies to meet their food and feed challenges and also increase productivity of their farmers, the government also needs to encourage and promote biotech crops, as the proper use of biotechnology is vital for rapid agriculture development in the country and also create employment for graduates from our institutions, experts added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018