Seed Association warns of severe shortages as Punjab authorities block inter-provincial movement of wheat seeds
LAHORE:
Punjab’s seed companies meet about 90% of Pakistan’s total seed requirements, yet wrong policies are pushing the agricultural sector towards disaster, the Seeds Association of Pakistan (SAP) warned at a press conference held at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday.
According to the club, if immediate remedial measures are not taken, the ongoing crisis will worsen. LCCI President Faheemur Rehman Saigol assured the Seeds Association of the chamber’s full support and urged the government to act without delay to address the issue. SAP President Rana Salman Mahmood Khan said that the Punjab Agriculture Regulatory Authority (PERA) and the Food Department have jointly stopped the supply of wheat seeds to other provinces. He warned that the decision would exacerbate existing shortages and could cause a severe drop in wheat production nationwide.
He pointed out that Pakistan produces about 552,000 metric tons of seeds annually, with Punjab seed companies contributing 516,000 metric tons, about 94% of the national total. “You can imagine the impact on the national wheat crop if Punjab companies stop supplying seeds to other regions,” he said.
The association has sought urgent meetings with the PERA secretary and the director general of the Food Department to resolve the issue. He has also written letters to President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif but is yet to receive a response. SAP appealed to Marshal Asim Munir to intervene, saying wheat is the backbone of Pakistan’s food security. “We urge you to ensure timely sowing and supply of seeds to save the nation from a major crisis,” Mahmud said.
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