Islamabad: (Parliament Times) The Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) and President of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Board of Governors (BoG) Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan has presided over the 40th Meeting of PARC BoG on Thursday here at PARC Headquarters Islamabad.
The PARC Board of Governors has approved PARC budget for the financial year 2016-17. According to break figures, the budget included Rs.2658 million for non-development whereas Rs.1241.709 millions have been approved for 16 public sector development projects. In addition, the board has approved Rs.193.791 million for Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) projects and Rs.183.114 million for Agriculture Linkage Program (ALP) of PARC. The board has also recommended additional budget of Rs.585.810 million supplementary grant. The board has also approved adoption of revision of basic pay scale-2016 and grant of adhoc relief allowance 2016 @ 10% of the basic pay and other allowances & facilities to the PARC employees. The budget was presented by Mrs. Rubina Safir, Member (Finance) PARC.
On this occasion, the Federal Minister for NFSR Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan has lauded the efforts of Members of Senate and National Assembly Standing Committees on National Food Security and Research to protect NARC from its displacement. He also acknowledged the important role of judiciary for taking suo moto action and said the decision will be on merit. He also appreciated the role of electronic media to highlight the NARC land issue and PARC Management, Public Relations Directorate, Scientists Association, Employees Association and others.
The Minister has congratulated the newly appointed Chairman PARC Dr. Yusuf Zafar, T.I.  and said that he will utilize his international experience and vision in revitalizing agricultural research in the country.
Minister in his speech, highlighted various PARC new interventions and projects which include olive initiative, recommendation of 14 rice hybrids for different ecologies, two wheat varieties Borlaug 2016 and Zincol 2016, two sugarcane varieties Thatta 2109 and Thatta 326, working on commercialization of GM crops in Pakistan, bioremediation on 86 sites full scale wastewater treatment facilities through Pakistan and introduction in four Islamic countries, biozote products (Biozote-N, Biozonte-P and Biozote-Max), diagnosis of PPR and control through targeted vaccination, mobile veterinary clinic services, feed technology unit, high eggs and meat producing chicks, Ostrich breeding facilities, American channel catfish hatchery at NARC, Tilapia hatchery and aqua feed production to promote intensive fish culture in the country, capacity building program of scientists for proposal writing, skill development of KPK’s extension staff and Balochistan farmers program.  200 scientists, 250 extension workers, 330 farmers and 11 Agri. Officers from Afghanistan have trained by PARC system. He said that the N.A. standing committee has visited PARC olive plantation area in Chakwal and Nowshera and they expressed their satisfaction on the project.
The house has also discussed research priorities and various issues of agriculture sector which include production planning, cost of production, realistic prices of commodities, crops scenario, policies for research, diversification of agriculture, seed purity, quality, value chain, technologies, innovations, post harvesting losses, storage, process, marketing, gaps and future planning.
Muhammad Abid Javed, Federal Secretary of Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Dr. Amir Muhammad, Founding Chairman PARC / Rector National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Dr. Mubarik Ali, Member Food Security and Climate Change, Planning Commission, Mutabiat Shah, Progressive Farmers / Representative from Gilgit-Baltistan, Ms. Izzat Jahan, Financial Advisor (NFSR) and Ghulam Murtaza, DFA (NFSR) Finance Division have given very positive suggestions to the house in various issues.
Chairman PARC Dr. Yusuf Zafar, T.I. has informed the board that he is taking various steps for the improvement of performance and efficiency of PARC system.
Secretary PARC Muhammad Tariq has presented present meeting agenda items and implementation of decisions of previous meeting(s) before the house for approval. Member SSD PARC Dr. Umar Farooq, Chief Scientist & DG AED Dr. Munir Ahmad, Chief Scientist & Member (NRD) Dr. Nadeem Amjad, Member (PSD) Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, Member (ASD) Dr. Shahid Rafique have also briefed and given presentation on their field of area.
DG NARC Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan said that NARC is developing a mechanism for establishment of demonstration unit of Yogurt at NARC under Public Private Partnership.
National Coordinator (Oilseeds) / Chief Executive Officer PATCO Dr. Muhammad Amjad and Director (SSRI) / Company Secretary PATCO Dr. Abdul Hayee Qureshi have given a detailed presentation on PATCO mandate and vision. In their presentation they said that the PATCO has generated income amounting to Rs.113.71 million during the FY 2015-16. They also highlighted future business plan for 2016-17 and expected income of Rs.170 million.