Pakistan and Indian scientists affirm that biotechnology is a vital means to
augment food production by 5 to 6 per cent and it can bring about 'food
security' in any country. During an interview with ACJ News on Friday,
Pakistan Biotechnology Information Center (PABIC) Director at Karachi
University, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary said that food inadequacy is
recognized as a global primary issue. In Pakistan, 20 per cent of the people
had been recorded to have acute malnutrition, while this figure was 10 per
cent a decade back. Pakistan is one of the three Muslim countries (with
Sudan and Bangladesh) commercializing biotech crops, out of 57 Muslim
nations. Unfortunately, Pakistan is still facing food shortage and
biotechnology can help in attaining food security.

M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) Director in Chennai, Dr G.N.
Hariharan also expressed his optimism on the impact of biotechnology in
India. But there is a need for people to know the benefits of biotech crops,
including its effect on health and the environment. According to a report of
Global Agriculture Information Network, "Bt cotton is the only GE crop
currently approved for commercial cultivation in India. Agricultural cotton
trade between the United States and India was estimated at about $5.6
billion in 2013, favoring India."

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