Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain has inaugurated the ten-acre Regenerative Agriculture Block at the National Agricultural Research Centre in Islamabad.

The purpose of this initiative is to promote sustainable farming practices, restore soil health, improve resource efficiency and strengthen agricultural resilience against climate change.

Earlier, presiding over a meeting in the federal capital today, the Minister directed scientists to accelerate the development of indigenous basmati rice varieties with superior yield to reduce dependence on Indian varieties.

He also called for greater attention to pulses and oilseeds, emphasizing that increasing their domestic production would help reduce Pakistan's import bill.

Rana Tanveer Hussain directed the Agricultural Engineering Institute to focus on the commercialization of locally developed machinery.

He also instructed livestock researchers to prioritize the development of vaccines against major animal diseases and promote research-based animal feed products.

Highlighting the country's agricultural export potential, the Minister called for the adoption of modern beekeeping practices, improvement in honey quality and compliance with international standards.