Pakistan’s domestic oilseed production has deteriorated significantly, with industry observers attributing the decline to the structural changes introduced by the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
The reforms, which devolved agricultural responsibilities to provincial governments, are cited as a key factor in the fragmentation of policy and support systems that once sustained higher yields.
Domestic output, which previously met approximately 30 percent of the country’s edible oil requirements, has since contracted sharply.
This structural shortfall has forced Pakistan to rely increasingly on imports to satisfy domestic demand, exacerbating the nation’s trade deficit and exposing the economy to global price volatility in the edible oil market.
The decline in local oilseed cultivation underscores broader challenges in Pakistan’s agricultural sector, where coordination between federal and provincial authorities remains a persistent hurdle.
As import bills rise, the pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves intensifies, complicating macroeconomic stability efforts.