Shehbaz Sharif has granted principle approval for restructuring the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council during a high-level meeting in Islamabad. The move aims to modernize agricultural research institutions and strengthen national food security through innovation, improved governance, and stronger collaboration with global research organizations.
During the meeting, the prime minister directed officials to prepare a comprehensive restructuring plan with a clear implementation timeline. He also instructed that PARC should be developed into a leading agricultural research institution modeled after the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to enhance research capacity.
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Officials briefed the meeting on reforms designed to transform PARC into a modern and efficient organization aligned with contemporary research needs. The proposed plan focuses on strengthening governance, hiring top researchers, expanding international partnerships, and improving coordination with provincial governments.
The restructuring strategy also includes setting measurable performance targets and linking agricultural research with industry. Authorities believe this approach will help address national food requirements, improve productivity, and support the growth of agricultural exports in the coming years.
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As part of the reforms, all research centres operating under PARC will be consolidated into five specialized Centres of Excellence. These centres will focus on high-yield seed development, advanced livestock breeding, precision agriculture, mechanization, artificial intelligence, and modern food processing technologies.
The meeting was attended by several senior officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain. Other cabinet members and advisers also participated in discussions aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s agricultural research framework.