ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has decided to significantly liberalise its genetically modified organisms (GMO) regulatory regime by approving major amendments to the Pakistan Biosafety Rules 2005, including simplifying licensing procedures, easing imports and facilitating laboratory research in universities and the private sector.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of the secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, according to the ministry’s spokesperson Mohammad Saleem Shaikh. Senior officials, including the director general of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), technical experts and members of the biosafety regulatory framework attended the meeting. Shaikh said the amendments had been recommended for cabinet approval and would have major implications for Pakistan’s edible oil and poultry industries, which rely heavily on imported genetically modified soybean and canola for food, feed and processing purposes.
One of the key changes is the removal of the “sunset clause” introduced in 2024 that permitted GMO imports only until Jan 17, 2027. Under the proposed amendments, imports of GMO grains such as soybean and canola will continue without any cut-off date. The revised rules also formally recognise new gene-editing technologies and grant greater autonomy to Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) at universities and private research institutions to approve student-based laboratory research projects.
According to the ministry’s spokesperson, the move is aimed at promoting science-based research and reducing bureaucratic hurdles in biotechnology innovation. Pakistan’s biosafety regime currently functions through a multi-tier committee system designed to ensure compliance with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Officials said the amendments seek to streamline the structure and decision-making powers of these committees to ensure faster approvals and minimise delays. Another major reform relates to the licensing process for GMO grain imports. Under the new framework, multinational biotechnology companies will be allowed to directly apply for licences for specific GMO events. Once approved by the NBC, the licences will be published on the Pak-EPA website, enabling private importers to import approved GMO grains without obtaining separate licences.
Officials at Pak-EPA said the move would help reduce the cost of doing business and encourage investment in the edible oil extraction and animal feed sectors. “Pakistan’s biosafety regime is precautionary and rigid to some extent. We are trying to make it more open, science-based and business-friendly,” said Dr Muhammad Rauf, National Programme Manager of the Pakistan Biosafety Clearing House at Pak-EPA. Saleem Shaikh said the amendments reflected Pakistan’s transition towards a modern and innovation-driven biosafety governance system. “These reforms are designed to balance biosafety safeguards with scientific progress, food security and investment facilitation,” he said. “In a climate-stressed world facing rising food insecurity, Pakistan needs efficient and science-based regulatory systems that encourage innovation while ensuring safety and transparency,” he added. Officials said Pakistan was also examining international models, particularly Canada’s biosafety framework, to further modernise its regulatory system.
