An urgent call has been made to Pakistan's apex investment body to formally recognize the organic food and products sector as a national priority, a move that could unlock billions of dollars in export revenue.
Institutional Head Appeals for Policy Intervention
Najam Mazari, who leads an institution dedicated to research on organic food and products, has directly appealed to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). He emphasized that despite the council's active facilitation of sectors like information technology, meat, and agriculture, the organic sector remains overlooked. Mazari stressed that including it among SIFC's priority areas is crucial for boosting exports and creating new investment opportunities in Pakistan.
Vast Potential Hampered by Policy Gap
In a detailed statement, Mazari pointed out a critical shortfall: Pakistan still lacks an effective and comprehensive national policy for the organic sector. This is a significant barrier, he argued, given the country's inherent strengths. He highlighted Pakistan's fertile land, favorable climate, and rich agricultural resources as ideal foundations for large-scale organic food production.
"With a clear government policy, a credible certification system, and proper export facilitation, Pakistan could earn billions of dollars in foreign exchange within a short span of time," Mazari asserted.
Global Demand and Concrete Steps Forward
The appeal is timed with rising global market trends. Mazari noted that demand for healthy, natural food is steadily increasing, with markets expanding rapidly in Europe, the Middle East, and Gulf countries. To tap into this demand, he has made a dual appeal.
Firstly, he urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intervene and announce a National Organic Policy. Secondly, he called on the SIFC to not only declare organic food a priority sector but also to take concrete steps. These steps include attracting foreign investment, introducing modern technology, providing training to farmers, and ensuring internationally recognized certification standards.
Mazari concluded that such structured support would enable Pakistan's organic sector to evolve from a fragmented activity into a formal, structured export industry, becoming a significant source of valuable foreign exchange for the nation.
