According to officials in the Pakistan Environment Protection Agency and the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), Pakistan is likely to import different varieties of cotton seeds to double its annual output from an average 12 to 13 million bales to 26 million bales. Recently, a ban (Plant Quarantine Act 1976) was imposed to restrict Pakistan’s cotton import, which prohibits the import of any kind of cotton seed, both genetically modified and non-genetically modified from any part of the world. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, Chairman PARC said that introducing genetically modified crops in Pakistan to increase yield, would do more good than harm. A strict procedure will be followed before GMO cotton seed is allowed into Pakistan.
