INTRODUCTION:

Biotechnology - powerful medium for socio-economic development.

Examples: Genetically modified crops and animals.

What is Genetically Modified Organisms?

SELECTED
GMOs DNA
GENES FROM ANOTHER
(genetic MODIFICATION USING UNNATURAL MEANS TRANSFER (GENE TECHNOLOGY)
ONE ORGANISM
material)
ORGANISM

The technology has been used around many countries for creating
GM crops. However, such developments have resulted in the opening of
multiple moral, legal and health issues. In this study, the only GM crop
commercialized in Pakistan which is Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton,
and its controversies will be discussed.
This review of the study also covers the conventions and
protocols relating to GMOs and its current status in
Pakistan. There has been a substantial increase in the
area of GM crops throughout many countries.

Desirable traits that will contain in the NEW GENE:

1. Pest Resistance
2. Herbicide Tolerance
3. Drought Resistance
4. Enhanced Nutritional Values
However, some people are concerned about the impacts of GMOs
on health and environment. Many countries have passed
legislations to protect their consumers and industries.
1. GM crop or seed has to be approves (if exported)
2. Labeling of GM foods is a pre-requisite for the marketing of GM
foods and testing to meet the biosafety standards is
mandatory.

Considering the advantages, the disadvantages and the

downsides - they have to be realized.
 STATUS OF GMOs in PAKISTAN
HOW TO TACKLE THESE CHALLENGES?
One approach is…
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS.
An agriculture based country
with more than 47% of its
population dependent on
agriculture as a means of
livelihood.
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES IN
PAKISTAN?
1. Some serious challenges
on the horizon of which
drought, salinity, stress
and climate changes are
important.
2. Issues raised questions
over the food security.
3. The population is about
to rise to 240m by 2035.
 Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt cotton)
ONLY GM crop approved and grown in Pakistan.

PAKISTAN 40,000 KG
8,000 ACRES
ATOMIC SEED OF ENCOURAGING
OF LAND IN
ENERGY INSECT OUTCOMES
THE YEAR
COMMISSION RESISTANT AND RESULTS
2005-2006
(PAEC) COTTON
PROVIDED

Evaluation of results is on the bases of their ability to abide Bio-safety rules. In comparison with
the traditional varieties grown in similar areas where BT cotton was grown, it resulted to few benefits
observed by the farmers. It can be concluded from the results that the GM crops may solve a few issues:
1. Enhanced production
2. Disease resistance
Chemical spray may be reduced through planting herbicide tolerant and pest resistant crops.
 GMOs’ status in Pakistan in perspectives of various conventions and
protocol
After the notification of Biosafety Rules, 2005, Biosafety guidelines
were developed built on three tiers:
1. National Biosafety Committee (NBC)
2. Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
3. Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

The guidelines were formulated in accordance to the guidelines of Food

and Agriculture (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO), United
Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and United
Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
 OBJECTIVES:
To avoid any negligence on the part of laboratory workers,
researchers and end users. But unfortunately, Pakistan environmental
agency has not been able to indulge concerned scientist and
researcher for authentication of GMOs.

International Plant Protection Convention plays an important

role in plant diversity conservation and natural resource
protection. PAKISTAN is still not signatory or legal binding to
IPPC. Therefore, it is necessary that Pakistan bind to legal
agreement for the protection of biodiversity and prevent risk
from GMOs.
 SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO GENETIC ENGINEERING
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY – an emerging field of biotechnology; engineering of
biology.
Involves synthesis of biologically based systems through artificial
means. A step further through synthesizing new biological systems from
scratch with added characteristics and properties that are controllable.
Use of bio-inspired tools and processes, applying in industry as well as
economy.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY VS.

SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY?
TRADITIONAL – milestones achieved but developments are slow and expensive
SYNTHETIC- there is hope that the process of research and development will be at
a faster pace.
 Role of synthetic biology in GMO safety
Encoding the genetic information of a transgene in artificial
nucleic acid that may allow safer route to the genetic
alteration.
The presence of the transgene would rely on external
supply of artificial nucleic acid precursors. Hence, a genetic
alteration can be removed from a transgenic plant.

HOWEVER…
Synthetic biology may raise certain ethical questions; some
others believe that it is like praying God. The need will be to
define an ethical framework.
 CONCLUSION
In summary, GMO can help in agriculture of Pakistan in
many different ways. However it may produce number of
threats at gene, individual, population and ecosystem level.
They can be complementary but never a replacement. The
world must ensure following of standards and are monitored.
Pakistan should ensure strong scientific capacity and
research based approach. Furthermore, Pakistan must
concentrate on synthetic biology as an alternative, as it poses
least risk as compare to traditional biotechnology. Training of
our scientists in this field is another major aspect that should be
immediately taken up.