Islamabad, September 4, 2024 – The Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security & Research, led by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, on Wednesday, visited the National Agriculture Research Center (NARC) to evaluate its operations and performance.
During the visit, the committee members toured various scientific laboratories and received detailed briefings from the Chairman of NARC. The Chairman outlined the laboratories’ functionalities and the processes involved in the preservation and cultivation of various plant species before harvest.
The Chairman also provided an overview of the historical development of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), its establishment as part of the National Food Security and Research Division, and its affiliation with the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R).
The committee was briefed on the governance structure, which includes a board of governors, a chairman, an executive committee, and the IPARCC committee. They also learned about PARC’s technical divisions, including PSD, NRD, ASD, and SSD.
Financial discussions covered the budget allocations for the past three years. For the fiscal year 2023-24, the total budget was Rs. 6,575.65 million, with Rs. 1,062.25 million designated for operational expenses and Rs. 5,512.40 million for establishment costs. The PARC/NARC workforce comprises 2,135 staff members, including 544 scientists and 435 para-scientific personnel.
The committee reviewed significant research achievements, such as advancements in plant genetic resources and the development of new plant varieties and hybrids. Financial updates since 2013 highlighted an increase in the research budget to Rs. 300 million for 2023-24, an educational stipend increase to Rs. 1.135 million, and an increase in direct pension credits to Rs. 7 million for 44 widows. Total liabilities cleared amounted to Rs. 989 million.
The committee also discussed critical challenges, including Pakistan’s low investment in agricultural R&D, which stands at only 0.12% of its Agricultural GDP—the lowest among SAARC countries. Other issues included difficulties in securing international grant-in-aid projects and the need for the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to extend NARC’s land lease, which has remained pending since 2005, hindering the development of research infrastructure.
The meeting was attended by Senators Poonjo Bheel, Dost Muhammad Khan, Prof. Sajid Mir, Rahat Jamali, Abdul Wasay, and Danesh Kumar, along with the Chairman of NARC and senior officials from related departments.
