Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain has emphasized the need to develop a sustainable wheat surplus to serve global markets and food-deficit countries.

He was talking to Dr. Flavio Breseghello, Director of CIMMYT's Global Wheat Program, and Dr. Sajid Ali, Senior Scientist and Country Representative for Pakistan, who called on him in Islamabad today.

The Minister called for stronger collaboration with CIMMYT to increase Pakistan's wheat productivity through improved genetics, modern research facilities and advanced production technologies.

He acknowledged six decades of partnership of the CIMMYT-Pakistan and stressed that the next phase of cooperation should focus increasingly on cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions capable of delivering further gains in wheat productivity.

The Minister was informed that fifteen scientists received training in Kenya, Nepal, Ethiopia and Mexico this year. He said that twenty-one seed banks have been established in twenty districts across Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the merged districts.

In his remarks, Dr Breseghello highlighted Pakistan's longstanding partnership with CIMMYT and the contribution of genetic improvement to sustained growth in wheat yields.