On 30 September 2025, the ECO Seed Association (ECOSA) held its sixth online session in the series Current Status of Seed Sectors and Investment Opportunities of ECOSA Member Countries, spotlighting the seed sector of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The meeting brought together over 60 experts and stakeholders from both the public and private sectors across the ECO Region.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Can Aygül, Director for Agriculture and Industry at the ECO Secretariat, highlighted the need for stronger intra-regional seed exchange, noting that the global seed market is valued at USD 65 billion, with trade exceeding USD 12–15 billion annually.
Afterwards, the session featured a comprehensive presentation by Professor Dr. Asif Ali Khan, Chairperson of Pakistan’s National Seeds Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA), who outlined the evolution of Pakistan’s seed sector from the Seed Act of 1976 to recent NSDRA reforms and ongoing efforts under the National Agricultural Biotechnology Policy (NABP). He provided an overview of Pakistan’s seed systems, variety development and release, GM variety approval procedures, trade data, quality assurance and accreditation, and frameworks for regional and international cooperation.
The meeting concluded with a Q&A session, reaffirming the collective commitment of ECO Member States to share expertise, best practices, and promote regional collaboration in seed sector development.
