Islamabad; May 16, 2019: The Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research met under Chairmanship of Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan, MNA in Parliament House, Islamabad this morning.

The Committee after detailed discussion and hearing the points of view of the Ministry and the Mover, on the Bill “The Chamber of Agriculture Bill, 2019” moved by Mr. Riaz Fatyana, MNA decided to constitute a 4-Member Sub-Committee under the Convenership of Chaudhary Muhammad Ashraf, MNA to discuss and submit its report to the Standing Committee within 30 days.

The Committee directed M/o National Food Security and Research and NARC to immediately take necessary measures to rescue the dying crop of corn in various districts of Punjab. The Committee was of the view that if the timely assistance is not provided to the farmers, the country would be in shortage of corn. The Chairman of the Committee pointed out that reportedly 10 thousand acres of corn crop had been destroyed. The Committee also directed NARC to collect samples of potatoes from all the potato growing areas and conduct immediate study to control the scab disease.

The Committee while discussing implementation status of its previous recommendations directed that ZTBL may relocate its existing branches in District Ranjanpur for convenience of the general public. The committee also desired to have a presentation by NARC on the developed new seeds of the crops and introduction of genetically modified seeds in the country.

The meeting was attended by Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, MNAs; Mr. Shaukat Ali, Mr. Ahmed Hussain Deharr, Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi, Mr. Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Mian Muhammad Shafiq, Sardar Riaz Mehmood Khan Mazari, Dr. Nausheen Hamid, Mr. Ahmad Raza Maneka, Chaudry Muhammad Ashraf, Choudhary Faqir Ahmad, Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Sherazi, Mr. Kamal Uddin, Mr. Riaz Fatyana, Mover, Secretary, M/o National Food Security and Research and Senior Officers of the concerned departments