ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has shown interest in investing in corporate farming in Pakistan’s rice sector to ensure a stable, reliable supply of rice through structured, long-term arrangements between the two countries.

The issue came up for discussion in a meeting between Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Assistant Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia Ibrahim Al-Mubarak on Wed­nesday. The meeting reviewed and advanced bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, and joint engagement in regional markets.

An official announcement released after the meeting noted that the Saudi side expressed interest in pursuing corporate farming in the rice sector. It was observed that Pakistan already meets the required quality standards, and that investment in corporate-scale farming, mechanisation, storage, and logistics could support steady rice exports to Saudi Arabia. More broadly, discussions on agriculture and food security focused on cooperation in rice, fodder (including alfalfa), meat, and selected agricultural products. Both sides also examined the potential role of Saudi financing institutions in supporting export-linked agricultural and infrastructure projects in Pakistan, particularly those structured around guaranteed offtake arrangements with Saudi Arabia.

Kingdom keen on investing in corporate farming, long-term rice supply

The meeting also reviewed corporate farming and mechanisation as long-term responses to productivity constraints, including in crops such as cotton, where declining yields and high labour input costs have weakened competitiveness.

Mr Kamal observed that export-oriented investment models could help restore agricultural output while strengthening downstream industries, including textiles and yarn.

The meeting reflected strong alignment on pursuing an investment-driven, partnership-based approach to economic cooperation. Both sides underscored the need to enhance competitiveness, expand production capacity, and strengthen value chains to unlock Pakistan’s export potential and respond to growing regional demand in a sustainable, coordinated manner.

A central focus of the discussions was the joint exploration of regional markets, particularly Central Asia, Africa, and ASEAN, which were identified as high-growth regions offering substantial opportunities for collaboration.

Both sides agreed that, by leveraging their respective strengths, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia can position themselves as complementary partners, combining Pakistan’s production capacity with Saudi Arabia’s capital, market access, and regional connectivity.

Human resource development emerged as another key area of collaboration. Both sides agreed that the most pressing shortages across healthcare, hospitality, and services are concentrated among nurses, caregivers, technicians, and mid-level hospitality staff rather than senior professionals.

Mr Al-Mubarak shared Saudi Arabia’s experience in vocational training and skills development. He conveyed openness to replicating the training to deploy models in Pakistan, linking structured training programs with employment opportunities overseas.

Opportunities in building materials and construction inputs were also discussed, with the Saudi side noting substantial import requirements for products such as limestone, marble, aggregates, and other materials not locally available. It was agreed that focused engagement between Pakistani suppliers and Saudi building material trading companies could deliver early outcomes through direct private-sector matchmaking.

Both sides also exchanged views on expanding cooperation in pharmaceuticals, sports goods, footwear, and light manufacturing, recognising Pakistan’s growing industrial base and the scope for joint ventures, contract manufacturing, and split-production models targeting regional and global markets.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2026

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ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Food Security and Research has not yet finalised budgetary proposals under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 2026-27, and the Senate Standing Committee at its meeting on Wednesday, expressed strong displeasure, and asked the ministry to finalise proposals at the earliest.

The Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, headed by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, directed the ministry to submit working papers well in advance of meetings and deferred further deliberations, instructing the ministry to finalise the PSDP proposals before the next meeting.

The committee was briefed on the “Thar Community Actions for the Management of Sustainable Ecosystem, Livestock and Livelihood (Thar CAMELL)” project proposed for inclusion in the next PSDP.

Highlighting the delayed inclusion of the project, the committee noted its importance for gene conservation of indigenous livestock and the establishment of diagnostic laboratories in Tharparkar. The committee appreciated and endorsed the project.

The committee reviewed a project aimed at developing high-value camel milk powder to boost foreign exchange earnings and improve livelihoods in arid regions. Appreciating the initiative, the committee recommended expanding the project to other provinces, particularly Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where significant camel populations exist.

The committee was also apprised of the regularisation of the PSDP project titled “Strengthening/Upgradation of Agriculture and Livestock Research System of Arid Zone Research Institute in Umerkot”, along with initiatives for strengthening, upgradation, and accreditation of national laboratories in line with national and international standards. The committee endorsed these projects and emphasised the need to focus on conserving indigenous livestock breeds, including local goat and cattle varieties.

The committee reviewed the performance of the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority and examined progress on various projects of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2026

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ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) enabled the recovery of about Rs506 billion in disputed tax revenue over the past year by deciding hundreds of long-pending tax and revenue cases and lifting stay orders that had blocked the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) from collecting dues, according to the court’s Annual Report 2025-26.

The report highlights that prolonged litigation and judicial delays in tax matters have kept vast amounts of public revenue locked in courts, adversely affecting fiscal stability and economic circulation.

To address this critical challenge, the IHC chief justice introduced a series of strategic administrative and judicial reforms aligned with the policy directions of the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC).

A central pillar of this reform agenda was the constitution of specialised division benches dedicated exclusively to tax and revenue cases — a step aimed at ensuring focused hearings, uniform legal interpretation and faster resolution of high-value disputes.

Two specialised division benches were formed for this purpose. One bench comprised Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, while another included Justice Muhammad Azam Khan and Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas. Later, Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz also served on a tax bench with Justice Sattar, further strengthening the court’s capacity to clear the backlog.

LHC strikes down PRA sales tax case against Fauji Wind Energy on jurisdiction grounds

Between April 1, 2025, and Feb 4, 2026, the specialised benches decided 788 tax and revenue cases, involving a total disputed amount of Rs506.13bn.

According to bench-wise data, the bench led by Justice Azam Khan and Justice Minhas decided 178 cases, accounting for the largest share of revenue — approximately Rs456.18bn.

The benches headed by Justice Babar Sattar, along with Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, collectively decided 610 cases, involving more than Rs49.9bn.

The adjudication of these cases resulted in the vacation of stay orders that had previously prevented the FBR from enforcing tax recovery, thereby unlocking substantial funds that had remained tied up in litigation for years.

The high court noted that this intervention has significantly contributed to the early realisation of public revenue, stren­gthening the national fiscal stream and supporting broader economic objectives.

The annual report describes the initiative as a “targeted, result-oriented case management strategy”, demonstrating how judicial specialisation can produce “tangible economic and institutional benefits within a relatively short period”.

Beyond tax matters, the report outlines broader institutional reforms aimed at enhancing judicial efficiency. The court expedited the disposal of over 3,000 bail applications during the year, facilitated by the establishment of a dedicated police cell within court premises to ensure rapid service of notices and timely production of records.

Fauji Wind Energy sales tax dispute

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench set aside a judgement of the appellate tribunal of the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) in a sales tax dispute involving Fauji Wind Energy, declaring the proceedings illegal and without lawful jurisdiction.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Jawad Hassan and Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf allowed sales tax reference and quashed the show-cause notice, order-in-original, and the appellate tribunal’s order dated Feb 25, 2025.

Justice Jawad Hassan authored the judgement, relying on earlier precedents including Fauji Cement Company Limited vs Government of Punjab and Rahat Cafe, Rawalpindi vs Government of Punjab, holding that the PRA had exceeded its statutory and territorial authority.

The case stemmed from a show-cause notice issued on June 15, 2016, in which the PRA alleged that Fauji Wind Energy failed to withhold Punjab Sales Tax on services received during the period July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015, involving payments exceeding Rs3.05bn and an alleged tax liability of Rs488 million.

The court ruled that the PRA lacked jurisdiction because the services were received and consumed in Sindh, where the company’s wind power operations are located, and not in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2026

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