Karachi, October 23: Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) seeds are destroying agriculture and spreading diseases in Pakistan but the government is not taking any steps to check this destruction of its economy and health of its general public, said Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor here Wednesday.
In a statement, he said multinational corporations and their local agents in Pakistan, having deep roots in corridors of power, are bent to get entry of GMO seeds of almost all crops in Pakistan to get huge profits on one hand and to destroy and cripple agriculture-based economy of the country on the other. He said these seeds are also spreading diseases including cancers in our population which is a serious issue. He said if the government allowed GMO seeds in Pakistan it would make Pakistani agriculture fully dependent on foreign corporations. He said with giving a nod to GMO seeds we are ourselves inviting food insecurity to Pakistan and axing our own feet.
He said there are dozens of countries where GMO seeds are completely banned due to their health hazards and serious food security concerns. He said Pakistan should also follow suit of these countries and say a loud and clear No to GMO seed mafia. He appealed to the apex court of Pakistan to take a suo moto notice of this issue concerning healthcare of Pakistani citizens as well as survival of our economy. He said we have our own agricultural universities and research centers and government should give them adequate funding to develop new home-grown seeds with high yields for Pakistani farmlands.
