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Given the pace of imports during the first six months of 2021/22, the wheat import forecast is reduced from 2.5 to 2 million tons. With harvest complete and better than expected yields, the 2021/22 rice production estimate is increased from 8.2 to a record 8.9 million tons.

This report outlines regulatory requirements and import procedures for food and agricultural imports into Pakistan. It updates the last FAIRS report (PK2020-0019), with additions to the Food Laws section.

This report outlines Pakistan’s requirements for import permits and export certificates for various food products for human and animal consumption. It also provides a list of the Pakistani government agencies involved in the entry of imported food products.

Pakistan is the 21st largest export market for U.S. food and agricultural-related products, with U.S. exports surpassing $1.38 billion in 2020. The top U.S. exports to Pakistan were cotton, soybeans, pulses, tree nuts, dairy products, planting seeds, dairy cattle, and forestry products.

Cotton continues to be the only genetically engineered (GE) crop approved for cultivation and use. Regulatory uncertainty prevents life science companies from seeking approval for any other GE crops, and the National Biosafety Committee is still developing regulations on imports of GE commodities intended for food, feed, and processing.

Due to excellent conditions during harvest, which followed a good growing season, seed cotton collection has progressed well, and deliveries to ginners are far out-pacing last year.

Driven by more area and better yields, centrifugal sugar production in 2021/22 is forecast at 6.7 million tons, up 11 percent over the current year’s revised estimate.

The 2021/22 rice production forecast is reduced from 8.2 to 7.9 million tons due to lower-than-average monsoon rains.

Despite lower area, 2021/22 production is forecast to reach 5.3 million bales, an 18 percent increase over the disappointing 2020/21 crop.

Pakistan’s MY 2021/22 wheat production is estimated at a record 27 million metric tons (MMT).

Marketing Year (MY)2021/22 wheat production is forecast at 26.0 million metric tons (MMT), three percent higher than last year’s wheat production of 25.2 MMT.

Pakistan’s MY 2021/22 sugar production is forecast at 6.8 million metric tons (MMT), up 14 percent from the current year’s revised estimate, due to significant increases in area and sugarcane yields.