ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Food Security has expressed strong displeasure over the inaccurate agricultural data provided by the Pakistan Agriculture Research Center (PARC), calling it a mockery of the nation.
The committee meeting, chaired by Syed Tariq Shah, was held the other day, during which officials from PARC briefed members on agricultural statistics. However, the committee was enraged over the incorrect figures regarding wheat production and directed an investigation against those responsible for presenting and approving the flawed data.
Speaking at the meeting, Committee Chairman Syed Tariq Shah accused PARC of misleading the nation with incorrect statistics while continuing to demand additional funds despite already receiving millions. He called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
Committee member Rana Muhammad Hayat also criticized the flawed figures, stating that a square of land across the country produces 1,400 maunds of sugarcane, whereas PARC officials were reporting only 600 maunds. He urged a probe into the inaccuracies and emphasised the need for accountability.
The committee rejected the statistics provided by PARC and demanded action against those who accepted and approved the report. Syed Tariq Shah termed the situation highly concerning and stressed the importance of identifying those responsible.
During the meeting, officials revealed that the throw-forward of the Ministry of National Food Security’s development budget had surged to Rs 187 billion.
Food authority cracks down on adulterators in Chiniot
They further disclosed that while the total worth of development projects exceeded Rs 201 billion, only Rs 14 billion had been allocated. The ministry’s total development budget for the current fiscal year stands at Rs 9.92 billion.
Regarding wheat cultivation, committee members warned that Punjab’s wheat production could decline next year due to a lack of rainfall and an early onset of summer. This could lead to challenges in the country’s food security.
The food secretary informed the committee that a summary on wheat policy had been submitted to the Prime Minister, who had formed a special committee to review recommendations. He assured that provinces currently have sufficient wheat reserves.