The World Bank, in collaboration with other partners, is preparing Just-in-Time (JIT) Policy Notes to address pressing issues related to agriculture and food security in Pakistan. The ‘Just-in-Time Policy Note on Agriculture and Food in Pakistan’ highlights that inappropriate policies and regulations contributing to market distortions, limited research efforts, and technology dissemination are causing food inflation and volatility in the country.
Also Read: Challenges and Mitigation Strategies for Inflation in Pakistan’s Economy
The notes aim to propose short and medium-term improvements in these areas. The analysis emphasizes the need to strengthen Pakistan’s food system, citing factors like uncompetitive market conditions, market failures, and challenges related to supply and demand factors.
Recommendations include gradually reducing the government’s role in public procurement, easing measures in the sugar industry to enhance competition, encouraging high-value agriculture, and improving trade-related infrastructure and linkages to global markets. The notes also suggest discontinuing the capping of milk and meat prices and developing a harmonized platform for monitoring the food system.
