A startling revelation that only four of Pakistan’s nineteen locust control aircraft are currently operational has raised serious concerns about the nation’s preparedness for agricultural threats. The disclosure was made during a Senate Standing Committee meeting on Thursday, where officials also discussed the establishment of a new food safety authority and troubling issues with substandard imports.

The Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, led by Chairman Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, convened to scrutinize the proposed ‘National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority Ordinance, 2025.’ The session was attended by Senators Poonjo Bheel, Abdul Karim, and Danesh Kumar, with Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, also participating.

Minister Hussain explained that the new authority is designed to regulate agricultural imports and exports, aiming to align Pakistan’s products with international quality benchmarks. He described the initiative as a vital step to enhance the country’s global agricultural competitiveness and increase export revenues.

While the Chairman welcomed the proposed body as a positive development, he also voiced significant concern over the Ministry’s failure to comply with previous committee directives. He demanded a detailed progress report and implementation record be submitted at the next session.

The panel was briefed on the authority’s structure, with the Ministry clarifying it would be led by a Director General (BPS-22) with relevant experience. It was also affirmed that no officials with a history of misconduct would be appointed to the new organization.

During the proceedings, Senator Danesh Kumar highlighted the unchecked import of substandard betel nuts, an industry estimated to be worth Rs3 billion annually. He criticized the failure of testing laboratories to conduct proper quality checks. In response, Minister Hussain assured the committee that strict measures were being implemented, including a directive that HEV tests for betel nuts be performed exclusively in certified facilities.

Expanding on the critical issue of the locust control fleet, the committee learned that the 15 non-functional planes were put up for auction, but the bids received were unsatisfactory. The Minister suggested that adopting drone technology would be a more efficient and cost-effective alternative for locust surveillance and management.

Chairman Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan supported the shift towards modern solutions, endorsing the use of affordable technologies to boost agricultural productivity and operational efficiency. The committee concluded that the new authority would represent a major reform for Pakistan’s agriculture governance.