Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema chaired a meeting to review the operationalization of the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA). The meeting assessed the Authority's progress towards becoming operational and reviewed measures aimed at establishing a modern regulatory framework for agricultural trade. Participants discussed NAFSA's role in facilitating agricultural imports and exports through a technology-driven, transparent, and single-window system designed to improve regulatory efficiency, strengthen food safety oversight, support ease of doing business, and streamline existing administrative processes.
The meeting was attended by Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Agriculture and Food Safety Ahmad Umair, Secretary National Food Security Amer Ali Ahmad, Director General NAFSA Imran Mohmand, and senior officials, who presented a comprehensive briefing on the Authority's operational preparedness.
According to the briefing, NAFSA is being established as a state-of-the-art regulatory authority that will function as a single-window platform for agricultural importers and exporters, enabling faster, more efficient, and transparent processing of trade-related matters. A dedicated NAFSA helpline, an AI-powered chatbot-enabled website, and official social media platforms will also be launched to provide timely guidance and facilitate stakeholders. The Authority is expected to become fully operational within the next few months.
The briefing highlighted that NAFSA is introducing a modern governance and human resource system based on merit, transparency, and professionalism. Recruitment is being carried out through an independent recruitment and scrutiny committee, while market-competitive salaries and a dedicated pay structure have been designed to attract highly qualified professionals, including experts from the private sector. Employees will be appointed on three-year contractual terms, with quarterly performance evaluations. Their contracts may be renewed on the basis of satisfactory performance; however, they will not acquire regular or permanent employment status at any stage of their service with NAFSA.
It was shared during the meeting that the NAFSA Board of Governance has been strengthened to ensure institutional autonomy, while the Director General and the Secretary will remain accountable to the Board. Major policy matters, including the creation of new posts and revisions in pay scales, will require approval of the Federal Cabinet. The meeting also noted that the Authority is currently headed by an Acting Director General, while the recruitment process for a permanent Director General from the private sector is underway.
The participants were also apprised that no employees from the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) have been inducted into NAFSA. However, a few one will temporarily assist the Authority during its initial operational phase to ensure a smooth transition. Newly recruited NAFSA officers are currently undergoing specialized training at the Customs Academy Karachi under the supervision of national and international experts to equip them with modern regulatory and inspection practices.
The meeting further reviewed NAFSA's technology-driven inspection system, under which inspectors will examine agricultural consignments without direct interaction with importers or clearing agents. The digital workflow, supported by third-party audits to validate inspection reports, is designed to ensure transparency, accountability, and integrity in regulatory operations.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema appreciated the progress made in establishing NAFSA and reiterated that the Government is fully committed to building a world-class institution that will replace outdated systems with an efficient, transparent, and internationally aligned regulatory framework. He said NAFSA is one of the most significant institutional reforms in Pakistan's agriculture sector and will greatly improve the business environment for importers and exporters dealing in plants, seeds, and other agricultural products by reducing delays, removing red tape, and ensuring quality regulatory services.
The Minister directed that integrity, professionalism, and strict adherence to rules and ethical standards must be ensured from the very first day of NAFSA's operations. He also instructed the relevant authorities to actively engage agricultural traders, importers, exporters, and other stakeholders through awareness campaigns so they are fully informed about the Authority's services and can immediately benefit once NAFSA becomes operational. He expressed confidence that the Authority would play a pivotal role in modernizing Pakistan's agricultural trade regime, enhancing international confidence in the country's regulatory system, and contributing to sustainable economic growth.
