Pakistan and China have agreed to jointly revamp the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) through a wide-ranging reform initiative aimed at transforming it into a globally competitive, innovation-driven institution. The Strategic Reform and Cooperation Plan, developed with the support of China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), seeks to modernise PARC’s research, infrastructure, and operational framework.
The announcement came during a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, in Islamabad. Senior officials, including PARC Chairman Dr Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi, attended the session, which reviewed findings from a comprehensive joint assessment conducted by Chinese and Pakistani experts.
Joint Study Highlights Structural Gaps
The Chinese-led study evaluated the performance and capacity of PARC, the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), and 11 affiliated institutes. It identified major challenges, including chronic underinvestment, outdated laboratories and equipment, weak research commercialisation, and significant brain drain due to limited incentives and seniority-based promotions.
The report emphasised that addressing these issues requires sustainable funding, modern research management, stronger coordination between federal and provincial institutions, and enhanced farmer-research linkages. It also recommended aligning research priorities with national goals of food security, climate resilience, and economic growth.
National Agricultural Science and Technology Roadmap
The reform plan calls for the creation of a National Agricultural Science and Technology Roadmap to guide future research directions. It proposes establishing Technology Transfer Units (TTUs) in all major institutes, a National Agricultural Technology Transfer Centre, and regional demonstration hubs to ensure that scientific innovations reach farmers effectively.
China and Pakistan will also strengthen collaboration through joint laboratories, capacity-building programs, and research on climate-resilient crops, pest control, irrigation efficiency, livestock improvement, and advanced farm machinery.
Minister Reaffirms Commitment to Agricultural Transformation
Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain praised the contributions of MARA and CAAS in designing a forward-looking reform strategy for Pakistan’s agricultural research ecosystem. He reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing the recommendations “in letter and spirit” to make PARC a hub of agricultural innovation and modernisation.
He also announced the formation of a high-level implementation committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, PARC, and key stakeholders to ensure effective execution with clear milestones and accountability mechanisms.
“The restructuring of PARC is not just an administrative reform, it’s a national priority,” the minister said, stressing that the initiative would strengthen food security, enhance productivity, and support sustainable economic growth.
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