ISLAMABAD: The Food Security and Research Ministry on Wednesday pledged to make Pakistan an economy with sustainable food security. This pledge was made by Food Security and Research Minister Sikandar Hayat Bosan while inaugurating the 3rd International Conference on Agriculture, Food Security and Biotechnology. The two-day event, being held at the National Agriculture Research Center, Islamabad, is jointly organised by the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), ISESCO and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC). He said, “It is time we should encourage and support smart agricultural practices. Safe use of modern biotechnology is direly needed to enhance agricultural production and get rid of malnutrition and starvation.” The session was attended by more than 130 national and international academia and scientists hailing from Turkey, Tunisia, Sudan, Iran, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan. Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali, member coordination and monitoring PARC, noted that advances in science and technology are the need of the time for food security and safety. Noting the hunger that is still prevailing in various parts of the world, he opined that biotechnology is the basis of production of vast variety of transgenic and genetically modified crops which can solve the problem of hunger. He said that the conference having a similar agenda is good for the developing countries as it will open ways for research, collaboration and capacity building. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kauser Malik, Department of Biological Sciences, FC College Lahore, said, “It is our fear of unknown that keeps the human being away from adapting new technologies, and advocated the use of genetically modified crops for addressing hunger.” In his message, Dr S M Junaid Zaidi, executive director COMSATS, said that despite major developments around the globe, many areas face starvation and malnutrition. Even the developed countries cannot engage in greater pursuits without ensuring food security, he added. Mentioning the importance of biotechnology in agriculture, he noted that biotechnological influence on food production and agriculture is undeniable especially for countries like Pakistan with fertile lands and good weather conditions.