The Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) is yet to get the required human resource, funds and office space even after its creation 11 months ago. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock was devolved on June 30, 2011 after the passage of 18th Amendment. Later, keeping in view the importance of national food security and to ensure better execution of retained functions, the ministry of NFS&R was established on October 26, 2011, an official source said.
He said that non-availability of required office space and limited human resource was hindering functions of the ministry. "Prior to devolution almost same functions were performed with sanctioned strength of 564 against the current 238 employees," he added.
The official said that there was ambiguity in discharge of some functions assigned to NFS&R under Rule of Business 1973 as the same were also being performed by other division. These functions, he added included import and export of food grains and food stuffs, collection of statistics regarding production, consumption and prices, grading of agriculture commodities and preparation of basic plan for bulk allocation of food grains and foodstuff.
He said that according to a notification issued by the cabinet division, the departments which come under the control of NFS&R are: Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO), Pakistan Dairy Development Board, Livestock and Dairy Development Board, Fisheries Development Board, Agricultural Policy Institute, National Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Plant Protection, Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department, Animal Quarantine Department, Federal Water Management Cell, Pakistan Oilseed Development Board, Pakistan Dairy Development Company.
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