PM approves PARC overhaul to boost agri research, exports and food security

• Premier Shehbaz emphasizes research as central to development of agriculture sector and national food security

• PARC to be restructured with five centres of excellence at NARC Islamabad to align Research with export targets and national food security goals

• CAAS experts to lead genome, livestock, climate-smart, and AI research

• Four ecology-based regional centres to focus on tropical, arid, mountain, and coastal agriculture

• Implementation roadmap spans 2026–2030 with AI, biotech, and precision agri projects

• Private sector to contribute 25% funding; federal grant Rs2b, endowment fund Rs10bn

 ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday approved the restructuring of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) under a plan aimed at “aligning the national agricultural agenda” with “export targets and food security goals.”

The approval came during a meeting chaired by the prime minister in Islamabad, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairing a meeting regarding restructuring of PARC. Islamabad, 17 March 2026.@CMShehbaz pic.twitter.com/lKIou9pwvB

— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) March 17, 2026

PM Shehbaz directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to prepare a comprehensive implementation roadmap, including a detailed timeline for the restructuring plan.

He emphasized that research is central to the development of Pakistan’s agriculture sector and national food security, instructing that PARC’s operations be aligned with the research model of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS).

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی زیر صدارت وزارت قومی غذائی تحفظ و تحقیق اور PARCکے امور پر اجلاس
اجلاس میں پاکستان زرعی تحقیقاتی کونسل (PARC) کی تنظیم نو کی اصولی منظوری

ٹائم لائن کے ساتھ PARC کی تنظیم نو جامع پلان تیار کیا جائے، وزیراعظم کی ہدایت
وزیراعظم کی PARC کو چین کی اکیڈمی… pic.twitter.com/nlfNFFUZI7

— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) March 17, 2026

Under the plan, the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) in Islamabad will be converted into centres of excellence covering five key agricultural research disciplines. The vision is to reposition PARC as a strategic coordinator rather than a direct implementer, while embedding international partnerships systematically across the research system.

Key Elements of the Restructuring Plan:

Centres of Excellence

Genome-based research on field and horticultural crops to develop climate-resilient varieties and high-yield hybrids.

Genetic improvement and health management of livestock, including advanced diagnostics and vaccine development.

Climate-smart solutions for land, water, and energy, targeting precision irrigation, soil health restoration, and renewable energy.

AI integration in agriculture and food systems, covering big data, precision equipment, farm automation, and robotics, while these centres to be headed by CAAS experts.

Governance Reforms

50% of the scientific advisory committee’s board to comprise foreign experts, including CAAS specialists.

Four ecology-based regional centres to replace fragmented research networks

Tropical Agricultural Research Centre (Karachi) – tropical crops, coastal agriculture, inland fisheries.

Dryland Agricultural Research Centre (Quetta) – arid horticulture, rangeland, livestock.

Dryland Agricultural Research Centre (Gilgit-Baltistan) – mountain horticulture, cold-water fisheries.

Arid Zone Research Institute (Dera Ismail Khan) – arid crops, natural resource management.

Implementation Roadmap

Phase 1 (2026): Institutional setup, establishment of governance bodies, target definition, creation of evaluation cell.

Phase 2 (2027-28): Operationalisation of five centres of excellence at NARC, piloting PARC and NARC in Punjab and Sindh.

Phase 3 (2028-30): National rollout to all provinces, integration of AI-powered National Agricultural Research Information System, and achievement of 25% private co-funding.

Phase 4 (2030 onward): Continuous global benchmarking, international peer reviews, and establishing Pakistan as a regional innovation leader.

 Expected Outcomes and Financing

Private Sector Contribution: 25% of research funding via co-investment, 20% through commercialisation income and licensing revenue.

Government Funding: Federal grant of Rs2 billion per annum; endowment fund target of Rs10 billion.

Budget Enhancement: National agriculture R&D budget to rise from 0.5% to 1% of agriculture GDP, aligning with international benchmarks.

Research Focus: At least 20% of projects dedicated to AI, biotechnology, and precision agriculture; 70% of export-oriented research aligned with prime minister’s export initiatives.

Human Capital: Average researcher age targeted at 45 years to reverse erosion in technical capacity.

The PMO stated that the reform agenda aims to make PARC a modern, viable institution capable of meeting national food needs, boosting agri-exports, and strengthening coordination with provincial governments, while leveraging the expertise of top agricultural scientists.