The usage of enzymes has increased manifold over the past two decades as the economy struggles to plug into the global market. The users, however, have been totally dependent on imports as there is not a single plant producing enzymes in the country.

“It is a neglected field like many others in Pakistan”, Tariq Mehmud, former president of the All Pakistan Textile Manufacturers Association (Aptma) commented over telephone.

“Yes there is huge market and scope for business in this specialised area but investors in Pakistan have long been preoccupied with issues of survival. Besides they preferred to operate in tried and tested fields. I am sure with improving environment private funds will flow towards biotechnology business”, he made a point.

This technology can boost productivity by making procedures energy efficient and cost effective. It can earn a market space for Pakistani commodities and products in countries insisting on environment friendly (green) standards.

“It is unfortunate that despite readily available raw material (sugarcane, wheat, fruits, etc), sufficient intellectual capital and fast growing market the business class has not been motivated to explore an area with so much promise. It is natural that foreign enzyme companies are capitalising on the local demand”, Dr Rashida Ali, a food technology researcher associated with multiple micro biology institutes who works as a consultant with English Buscuit Manufacturers told Dawn.

She hammered the need for cooperation between academics and businessmen to promote technology and advanced processes to benefit from idle intellectual and physical capital. “All ideas need to be tested in market to prove their relevance”, another officer working in quality control department of a multinational commented.

“Compartmentalisation of skills and the lack of direction in industrial policy results in cruel wastage and misappropriation of precious little that we have in name of resources in the country”, he said.

Shafqat Naghmi, federal secretary industries told Dawn that the ministry was not aware of the quantum of the domestic demand for enzymes by industry or its scope as a possible area where investment needs to be directed.

“Now that you have pointed it out I will ask relevant departments to explore it”, he commented.

Most businessmen active in textile, detergents, leather, fertiliser, milk, dairy products, confectionary products, etc. told Dawn that they use numerous enzymes in their production processes.

“I cannot tell the size or the shape of enzyme market but in my biscuit company, I use 50 different enzymes.”, a businessman told Dawn.

“I think investment in bio technology and innovation is overdue keeping in view the rising application of enzymes in multiple industries such as food and beverages, which include dairy, bakery, poultry, meat and fruit juices”, he said.

In agriculture bio innovation helps improve yield, quality and control post harvest wastages and pest attacks.

“Look at India. Seven years back they introduced bio technological solutions in their farm sector and succeeded in almost doubling their cotton production by improving yields”, a textile tycoon lamented the slow progress in farm production.

According to information on a website the global enzyme demand will rise 6.8 per cent annually to $8billion in 2015. Growth will be led by enzymes used in diagnostic, research and biotechnology, animal feed, and food and beverage markets.

Tina Sejersgaard Fanoe, vice president of Novozymes, a Danish biotech firm which holds a 47 per cent share in the global market for industrial enzymes, was visiting Pakistan last week to mark the growth of the company’s operation here.

“Pakistan needs to heighten productivity in industrial and farm processes to capitalise on trade opportunities. Through bio innovation and promotion of biotechnology it can hit the nail on the head”, Tina told Dawn.

“Bio-innovation has changed the global industrial agenda. The industries in Pakistan, like in any other country, need to understand the importance of using bio-technology, if they want to be sustainable and be part of tomorrow’s industries”, she said in a written statement sent to the writer.