Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Tuesday approved in principle the restructuring of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, directing authorities to prepare a comprehensive reform plan with a defined timeline.
Chairing a meeting on the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and PARC affairs, the prime minister emphasised that agricultural research is vital for strengthening the country’s agriculture and food security sectors. He instructed that PARC be developed into a leading research institution on the lines of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
During the meeting, officials presented a detailed briefing on proposed reforms aimed at modernising PARC. The plan includes overhauling the governance structure, hiring high-quality research personnel, enhancing international partnerships, improving coordination with provincial governments, and setting clear performance benchmarks.
As part of the restructuring, all research centres operating under PARC will be merged into five Centres of Excellence. These centres will focus on key areas including high-yield seeds, improved livestock breeds, precision agriculture, farm mechanisation, the use of artificial intelligence in agriculture, and food processing to boost exports.
The reforms also aim to strengthen linkages between agricultural research and industry to better meet national food requirements and enhance the sector’s contribution to the economy.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik, Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistants Haroon Akhtar and Tariq Bajwa, Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Agriculture Ahmed Umair, along with other senior officials.