ISLAMABAD: Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan met with a high-level United Nations delegation led by David Laborde, Director of the Food and Agri Organization (FAO), to review ongoing collaboration on Geographical Indications (GIs) and the integration of nutrition objectives into Pakistan’s trade policies.
The meeting, held on Friday, formed part of a broader UN-supported initiative aimed at aligning national trade strategies with nutrition goals, enhancing food system sustainability, and strengthening agricultural exports.
Discussions focused heavily on the development and registration of regional products under the GI framework.
The two sides highlighted progress on promoting unique Pakistani agricultural products such as Chilghoza pine nuts sourced from Shirani, Chitral, Waziristan, and Diamer.
Both the Ministry of Commerce and the UN delegation acknowledged the economic and branding potential of GI-certified goods, particularly in boosting rural incomes and enhancing Pakistan’s global trade identity.
The FAO has already conducted several national workshops and field visits to support the GI registration process. Minister Jam Kamal emphasized the need for stricter national compliance standards to meet international trade requirements, particularly those under the World Trade Organization (WTO).
He noted that regulatory gaps and lax enforcement continue to undermine formal markets by enabling unregulated, informal trade practices.
Using the Green Pakistan Initiative as an example, he pointed out how high taxation had dampened the appeal of corporate farming investment, underlining the importance of policy incentives in driving agricultural growth.
In a move to institutionalize collaboration, both parties agreed on the formation of a steering committee and specialized technical working groups to ensure cross-coordination between federal and provincial stakeholders.
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These bodies will help guide policy implementation, monitor progress, and address technical challenges in agri-food and nutrition-related reforms.
The UN delegation also briefed the Commerce Minister on progress made under the UN Joint Front, which aims to enhance access to nutritious diets by analyzing gaps and surpluses in food production across different regions of Pakistan.
David Laborde highlighted how poor dietary habits—especially increased reliance on processed and high-fat foods—are contributing to rising health issues and diminishing overall productivity.
Laborde stressed the importance of a comprehensive and integrated approach to food policy—one that considers both food supply dynamics and consumer behavior patterns.
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He called for sustained action that merges agricultural development with public health goals to improve long-term food security and economic performance in Pakistan.
