Parliamentary panel urges export of surplus potatoes to Russia

Key Takeaways

The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to export surplus potato stock.
101 companies have been registered with Russia for facilitating potato exports, following lifting of import restrictions.
The committee recommended setting up a centralized coordination cell to enhance food security collaboration.

A parliamentary body in Pakistan has directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNF&R) to take immediate steps for exporting surplus potato stock to Russia, aiming to save growers from financial losses. The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research made this directive during a meeting with MNA Syed Tariq Hussain.

The committee emphasized the need for concrete measures to facilitate potato exports, highlighting that farmers have suffered significant financial losses due to the surplus stock. MNA Rana Muhammad Hayat expressed his concerns, stating, 'The government has done nothing to save farmers.'

Senior officials from MNFS&R informed the committee that 101 companies had been registered with Russia on July 7th, following the lifting of import restrictions. This registration is expected to significantly increase potato exports during the upcoming season.

According to the officials, the area under potato cultivation has increased over recent years. In 2015–16, it was 177,700 hectares, but by 2025–26, this figure had risen to 462,160 hectares. This year's potato production is estimated at 12 million tons, which is 2.2 million tons higher than last year.

The committee also recommended the establishment of a centralized inter-ministerial and inter-provincial coordination cell at the federal level to enhance collaboration on food security issues. Amir Ali Ahmed, Secretary of MNFS&R, informed the committee that the plan for this initiative had been finalised and would be implemented within three months.

During the meeting, the committee questioned the transparency of the recruitment process for 80 scientists. The Ministry informed the Committee that the recruitment process had been cancelled. The officials also presented a report from an inter-ministerial meeting with stakeholders to review quality standards for beverages containing artificial sweeteners and assess their potential health implications.

The committee recommended that provincial food authorities and Islamabad submit their recommendations to PSQCA within one week. It further directed PSQCA to call a meeting of its Technical Committee, involving all stakeholders, to revise beverage standards based on findings from NIH, provincial Food Authorities, and internationally accepted scientific research regarding the health effects of artificial sweeteners and chemical additives, particularly on children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.

The committee also recommended increasing the minimum fruit pulp content in juice products to at least 10 percent. It further asked PSQCA to issue comprehensive guidelines to provincial food authorities, make quarterly testing of beverages through PSQCA-recognised laboratories mandatory, and ensure effective monitoring and enforcement.