Is Hemp Legal in Pakistan?

Industrial hemp is licensed in Pakistan under the framework approved by the Federal Cabinet on 1 September 2020. The Ministry of Science and Technology was designated as the lead agency to issue hemp cultivation and research licenses, with the Anti-Narcotics Force coordinating on security. The program targets fiber, seed, and CBD-grade hemp for export markets. Implementation has been gradual, with licensing rules and THC thresholds emerging through Cabinet decisions and ministerial notifications rather than a single comprehensive statute.

Cultivation outside the licensing framework remains an offence under the Control of Narcotic Substances Act 1997. Hemp consumer goods - textiles, hemp foods, hempseed oil - imported through Pakistan Customs can clear when documented as finished products with no viable seed and negligible THC. Domestic processors and exporters require ANF clearance and Ministry of Science and Technology endorsement. The Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial governments have publicly explored hemp pilot zones; provincial-federal coordination on land use and law enforcement remains a work in progress.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.