The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research has called for strict legal measures against sellers of counterfeit seeds, proposing fines and imprisonment.
During a session chaired by MNA Syed Tariq Hussain, the committee suggested increasing the maximum imprisonment for such offenses to two years and raising fines to Rs2 million.
The ministry informed the committee about the Special Inquiry Commission’s ongoing investigation into the counterfeit seed market, noting that a conclusive report is anticipated in the coming days.
In discussions about the Seed Amendment Bill 2024, National Food Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said that provincial governments had obtained telephonic approvals through their chief secretaries. He assured that resolutions from the provincial assemblies, mandated by Article 144 of the Constitution, would be presented before the bill’s enactment.
The Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association raised issues regarding unfair taxation by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The committee instructed the ministry to engage with the FBR and report findings at the next meeting.
Furthermore, the Department of Plant Protection worked with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to improve locust control efforts and deliver a report on short-term overhaul strategies.
