The seed production and distribution system in Pakistan has passed through many development stages. From year 1947 upto 1960 it remained with the “Department of Agriculture” and then with “West Pakistan” Agriculture Development Corporation (WPADC). After 1972, the function of seed procurement and distribution became the responsibility of provinces. In 1973 FAO formulated a Seed Industry Project with participation of private sector. In 1976 the World Bank acquiesced to the desire of Provincial Government to establish Seed Industry Project in public sector and this very year, “Seed Act 1976” was promulgated to organize seed production/ distribution in the public sector.
In the later years the desired goals in production/ distribution of seed were not achieved. Consequently in 1981 private sector was allowed to take up the seed production. In 1994, seed business was declared as seed industry. By 2008 more than 665 seed companies including 5 multinationals were allowed seed business in the country. However incentives for investment in research and seed production did not materialize. The registered seed companies mainly want for local commercial seed production of crops like wheat, cotton and rice. Hybrid seed of maize, vegetables, oil seeds and fodder remained on the import list.