KARACHI: Pakistan said on Tuesday it would launch a crackdown on the smuggling of seeds from archrival India while emphasizing better regulation of the domestic seed market and promotion of local agricultural innovation.
The move comes amid renewed tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors after last month’s deadly attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan, though Islamabad denied the charge.
Both countries have since taken tit-for-tat measures against each other, downgrading bilateral trade and diplomatic ties. India has also suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a decades-old pact governing cross-border river flows, raising food security concerns for lower riparian Pakistan in the longer run.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, chaired a high-level meeting focusing on the issue, pointing out that Indian seeds were being smuggled into Pakistan and openly advertised on social media platforms.
“The Ministry is working closely with law enforcement agencies to take strict action against those involved in this illegal activity,” he said.
He also warned that the country, once ahead of India in agricultural innovation, was now falling behind.
“It is unfortunate that we now cite India’s example in seed quality and yield performance,” he added.
Hussain also raised the issue of the widespread sale of non-certified and substandard seeds in local markets, saying the authorities had banned 392 companies found guilty of distributing fake seeds.
The participants of the meeting said more than 50,000 metric tons of cotton seeds were available for the upcoming season, nearly meeting the total requirement of 53,796 metric tons and easing concerns about shortages.
According to a statement circulated after the meeting, the minister addressed the problem of price volatility in the seed market, saying the National Seed Development Authority had been established to monitor seed quality, prevent the sale of fake seeds and enforce stringent regulations.
He also reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to protecting farmers’ rights, ensuring food security, and transforming the agriculture sector through transparency, regulation and innovation.
Pakistan to crack down on smuggling of seeds from archrival India
https://arab.news/gpbjr
Pakistan to crack down on smuggling of seeds from archrival India
- Pakistan’s food security minister says the country is falling behind India in seed quality and yield
- He says National Seed Development Authority will curb fake seeds, enforce stringent regulations
UAE, Pakistan launch new feeder service to strengthen maritime connectivity
- The new service establishes a regular shipping link between Karachi and the UAE ports of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan
- It will support supply chain continuity and help ensure Pakistan’s trade maintains dependable access to global markets
KARACHI: Pakistan and Emirati authorities have launched a new feeder service linking Karachi with the UAE ports of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan to strengthen maritime connectivity, the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) announced on Thursday.
The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner, after China and the United States. Policymakers in Pakistan consider the UAE an optimal export destination due to its geographical proximity, which minimizes transportation and freight costs
The new service establishes a regular shipping link between Karachi and two of the region’s key transshipment hubs, enabling Pakistani importers and exporters to maintain reliable access to global container shipping networks.
The service will call at the Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited (KGTL), part of AD Ports Group’s international operating arm, Noatum Ports. The first vessel of the service arrived at KGTL on the evening of 11 March, officially marking the start of regular operations.
“The introduction of this feeder service further enhances Karachi Port’s connectivity with key regional hubs and supports Pakistan’s growing trade requirements,” KPT Chairman Rear Admiral (Retd.) Shahid Ahmed said in a statement.
“Strengthening maritime links with the UAE will help facilitate smoother cargo movement while providing greater flexibility for the country’s trading community as per the vision of honorable Minister for Maritime Affairs Mr.Junaid Anwar Choudhry.”
Pakistan’s economy relies heavily on maritime trade, and strengthened connectivity with regional transshipment hubs provides additional resilience for exporters, importers and supply chains. The new feeder link supports supply chain continuity through KGTL and helps ensure Pakistan’s trade maintains dependable access to international markets, according to KPT.
Cargo routed through Fujairah and Khor Fakkan will benefit from seamless connectivity to regional and international shipping networks, supported by the UAE’s advanced logistics infrastructure. Containers can be efficiently transferred via integrated road and rail corridors to major commercial hubs and logistics centers across the UAE.
“The commencement of this feeder service reflects KGTL’s continued commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s maritime connectivity and supporting the country’s trading community,” said KGTL Chief Executive Officer Khurram Aziz Khan.
“By linking Karachi directly with major UAE transshipment hubs, this service provides importers and exporters with reliable access to global shipping networks while reinforcing the role of Karachi Gateway Terminal as a key gateway for international trade.”
