In a strategic move to tap into the lucrative global hemp market, the Pakistani government has announced the commencement of commercial hemp cultivation starting January 2025.

This decision, revealed by officials from the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) during a Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology meeting, is expected to significantly boost the country’s economy.

Chaired by Senator Kamal Ali Agha, the committee was informed that Pakistan could potentially earn between $5 to $7 billion in foreign exchange through the export of hemp products. Despite having a current hemp cultivation value of $5 billion, the sector remains underutilized.

To address this, the government has approved the establishment of the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (CCRA), which will oversee and regulate the industry.

The global demand for hemp is substantial, with over 50 countries incorporating it into their pharmaceutical industries. Pakistan has already initiated hemp cultivation on a two-acre plot at Barani Agricultural University, where research and development efforts have yielded various hemp-based products.

Officials highlighted that Pakistan’s hemp products are already being exported internationally, including to the United States, which provides tax exemptions on hemp imports. The CCRA, chaired by the Defense Secretary, will be responsible for issuing licenses for commercial cultivation.

Its membership will include secretaries from relevant ministries, provincial chief secretaries, and representatives from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).

The authority aims to ensure the regulated cultivation and processing of hemp, positioning Pakistan to capitalize on the expanding global market.