Cabinet greenlights (NABP)–2025

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet has approved the National Agricultural Biotechnology Policy (NABP)–2025, aimed at fostering a robust biotechnology industry to support sustainable agriculture, enhance crop productivity, and ensure food and nutrition security through research and commercialisation of innovative products.

Globally, genetically modified (GM) crops are cultivated on approximately 201.5 million hectares, accounting for around 3 percent of the world’s cultivated land.

A total of 71 countries have adopted biotechnology in agriculture, including 29 countries that grow biotech crops, while another 42 countries—comprising 16 individual nations and 26 European Union member states—import GM commodities such as maize, soybean, and canola for food, feed, and processing.

READ MORE: GMOs imports: Govt to liberalise regulatory framework

Biotech crops have expanded beyond the traditional “big four”—maize, soybean, cotton, and canola—to include a wider range of crops such as alfalfa (1.3 million hectares), sugar beet (473,000 hectares), sugarcane (20,000 hectares), papaya (12,000 hectares), safflower (3,500 hectares), potatoes (2,265 hectares), and eggplant (1,931 hectares), along with smaller-scale cultivation of squash, apples, and pineapple. In addition, public-sector research is ongoing in crops such as rice, banana, wheat, chickpea, pigeon pea, and mustard, focusing on economically important traits and improved nutritional quality.

The Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MoNFS&R) informed the Cabinet that agricultural biotechnology is rapidly transforming global farming practices. Pakistan, it noted, possesses significant potential in this field due to its strong scientific base, established regulatory framework, and well-equipped research institutions. Key policy documents—including the Science and Technology Policies of 2011 and 2024, the National Food Security Policy 2018, the National Seed Policy 2025, and Pakistan Vision 2030—underscore the importance of biotechnology.

However, despite these strengths, Pakistan has yet to fully capitalise on the opportunities offered by agricultural biotechnology, primarily due to the absence of a comprehensive and unified strategic direction, the Ministry added.

The NABP–2025 categorises biotechnology into regulated and non-regulated domains. Regulated areas include GMO development and commercialisation, gene editing, import and export of GM products, and recombinant vaccines for animals. Non-regulated areas primarily cover plant tissue culture and genomic research. Both domains have been assigned priority based on national requirements.

The Cabinet was further apprised that the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), in its 6th Executive Committee meeting held on October 23–24, 2023, had directed the Ministry to develop a comprehensive GMO policy. Subsequently, a committee led by the Chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) was constituted on November 20, 2023, to draft the policy.

Following initial drafting, another committee headed by the Chairperson of the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA), comprising technical experts, was tasked with refining the document. A consultative meeting held on May 7, 2025, finalised the draft policy for submission to the Federal Cabinet.

Further consultations were held with provincial secretaries on June 2, 2025, followed by additional sessions focusing on animal biotechnology and engagement with private sector stakeholders on June 27, 2025, to ensure effective implementation.

The Cabinet was informed that the Prime Minister had granted approval for submission of the summary under Rule 17(1)(a) of the Rules of Business, 1973, to seek formal Cabinet approval.

During deliberations, it was noted that most countries already have biotechnology policies in place, making it imperative for Pakistan to adopt a similar framework. Such a policy would enable the country to benefit from advances in genetic engineering while ensuring safeguards against potential risks.

The import of GM soybean/Canola was the main issue under the Trade & Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between Pakistan and the USA. The GM soybean issue was resolved under trade diplomacy; however, the GM Canola issue is under review. The whole business of export/import related to genetically modified products needs to be clarified, facilitated, and eased. The import of seeds/seedlings/cuttings for cultivation and grains for FFP will be regulated according to Rule 14(2) and Rule (14)2A of Pakistan Biosafety Rules-2005 (Amended 2024), case by case.

The sources said, Government of Pakistan is confident that the National Agricultural Biotechnology Policy of Pakistan 2025 will receive strong support from Provincial Governments, Agricultural Universities, plant breeders, seed producers, the seed industry, technology developers and all other stakeholders. It is anticipated that this policy will act as a catalyst in achieving the objectives of sustainable agricultural development, ensuring food and nutritional security for the population, and raising living standards for farming communities.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026