ISLAMABAD: The Senate of Pakistan on Tuesday passed the Seed (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which aims to establish a National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority, as well as Seed Tribunals.
Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, presented the bill, which further amends the Seed Act of 1976. The bill had previously been approved by the National Assembly.
The bill’s statement of objects and reasons outlines that the Authority will be endowed with essential powers and functions, including legal status as a corporate body, the ability to employ modern methods, the authority to engage with governmental and non-governmental entities, and the establishment of an effective regulatory regime. The Senate passed the bill through a clause-by-clause review.
Moreover, Rana Tanveer Hussain, on behalf of Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, the Minister for Law and Justice, introduced the Legal Aid and Justice Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which further amends the Legal Aid and Justice Authority Act of 2020.
The minister urged the Chair to pass the bill, noting that it had already been approved by the National Assembly and involved only minor amendments. However, Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani, at the request of Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz, referred the bill to the relevant standing committee for further discussion.
