PARC Reform Drive Targets Modern Farm Innovation
Pakistan plans sweeping reforms of its agricultural research system to boost productivity, strengthen food security, and accelerate commercialization of scientific innovations.
The federal government has launched a comprehensive reform initiative to modernize Pakistan’s agricultural research system, with a focus on strengthening technology transfer, improving scientific capacity, and aligning research priorities with food security and export growth.
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, chaired a high-level meeting today with Dr. Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi, Chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), to discuss a comprehensive reform of Pakistan’s national agricultural research system.
Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain emphasized the urgent need to modernize and restructure research institutions across the country to meet international standards, boost productivity, and strengthen food security and export competitiveness.
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The Minister highlighted that overlapping mandates between federal and provincial research bodies have created inefficiencies, while many institutions continue to work in isolation. He stressed that research must move beyond siloed structures and adopt cross-disciplinary approaches, ensuring practical and commercially viable outcomes.
Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain also underscored the critical need to enhance technology transfer and commercialization, noting that some innovations, including vaccines, have historically taken years to reach the market, whereas they should ideally be commercialized within months.
Chairman Dr. Andrabi noted that the quality and quantity of human resources in the system have been compromised over time, limiting its ability to achieve high-impact results. He emphasized that Pakistan’s national research agendas must be aligned with export targets and food security goals, ensuring that all research efforts directly contribute to national priorities. The Chairman also highlighted the importance of establishing a Digital NARIS Platform, which will serve as a centralized data repository and shared research facility to facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing, and evidence-based decision-making.
To strengthen governance and strategic oversight, Dr. Andrabi announced the formation of the Board’s Scientific Advisory Committee, which will convene quarterly to review scientific priorities, set strategic directions, and benchmark performance against global standards. The committee will comprise 50% foreign experts, including specialists from CAAS and other leading international institutions, ensuring that Pakistan’s research system is aligned with the best global practices.
The Minister reiterated that the reform aims to reposition Pakistan’s agricultural research system as a strategic enabler, moving away from budget-driven accountability to an impact-focused model that measures performance based on productivity, adoption of technology, commercialization, and export growth. He emphasized the need for robust coordination between all research bodies, systematic international partnerships, and merit-based human capital development to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and scientific excellence.
Under the reform, Pakistan will establish Centers of Excellence focusing on climate-resilient crops, livestock improvement, advanced food processing, AI and precision agriculture, and sustainable land, water, and energy management. These centers are designed to encourage innovation, accelerate commercialization of research, and position Pakistan as a regional leader in agricultural science and technology.
Concluding the meeting, Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transform Pakistan’s agricultural research system into a globally competitive, efficient, and innovation-driven network, ensuring that scientific research delivers tangible solutions for farmers, industry, and the nation’s food security agenda. Chairman Dr. Andrabi emphasized that the coordinated approach, backed by strategic oversight and modern infrastructure, will significantly improve research quality, increase commercialization, and contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth and global competitiveness.