SIFC Urged to Prioritise Organic Food and Products Sector

By Farzana Chaudhry — Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: Najam Mazari, head of an institution engaged in research on organic food and products, has urged the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to include the organic food and products sector among its priority areas to help boost exports and attract new investment.
In a statement, Mazari said that despite Pakistan’s significant potential for the production and export of organic food and related products, the country lacks a comprehensive and effective national policy for the sector. He noted that while the SIFC is actively supporting export-oriented industries such as information technology, meat and agriculture, similar facilitation should be extended to organic food and products.
Mazari said prioritising the sector would allow it to develop into a structured export industry and emerge as a meaningful source of foreign exchange earnings. He also called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intervene and announce a National Organic Policy.
Highlighting Pakistan’s comparative advantages, Mazari said the country’s fertile land, favourable climate and extensive agricultural base make it well suited for organic food production. He added that global demand for organic and natural food products is steadily increasing, particularly in markets across Europe, the Middle East and the Gulf region.
According to Mazari, with a clear government policy framework, a credible certification mechanism and effective export facilitation, Pakistan could generate billions of dollars in foreign exchange from the sector within a relatively short period.
He further urged the SIFC to formally declare organic food and products a priority sector and take concrete steps to attract foreign investment, introduce modern production technologies, provide training to farmers and ensure internationally recognised certification standards.