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Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security & Research, chaired by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, reviewed and approved key development projects under PSDP 2026–27, totaling over Rs. 20.5 billion. The meeting at Parliament House was attended by Senators Rahat Jamali, Sardar Al-Haj Muhammad Umer Gorgaij, and Danesh Kumar.
The Committee was briefed on fifteen major projects, including:
Olive Value Chain Project: Phase-II to be completed by June 2026; Phase-III will establish cluster-based commercial olive orchards on 40,000 acres, graft 300,000 wild olive trees, and provide comprehensive farmer training.
Digital & Precision Agriculture: Modern mechanization facility at NARC to replace outdated systems with advanced technology.
Livestock & Horticulture Development: Initiatives include improving indigenous breeds, disease control, and a Rs. 8 billion project for camel milk powder production and export in Balochistan and Thar.
Agri-Food Infrastructure & Research: Strengthening National Agri-Food Labs (Rs. 490 million), expanding cotton cultivation in Balochistan (Rs. 808.25 million), AI-driven crop improvement and reference genomes (Rs. 786.816 million), and Controlled Atmosphere fruit storage facility in Gilgit-Baltistan under PPP model.
Other Strategic Initiatives: National Bio-Fertilizer & Composting Program, sustainable livestock development, Seed Potato Production Centre to reduce imported seed dependency by 80%, and National Crop Diversification & Import Substitution Program (Oilseeds).
Regional Development Projects: Value-added livestock products from yaks in Gilgit-Baltistan, upgrade of Date Palm Research Institute Khairpur, and establishment of a modern slaughterhouse and wholesale meat market in Islamabad’s Sector I-11/4.
The Committee approved Balochistan’s budgetary proposals submitted by Senator Sardar Muhammad Umar Gorgaij. The Chairman also noted the absence of the Director General of the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA), directing him to explain at the next session.
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