Saskatchewan and Pakistan can convert post-COVID recovery into durable growth by pairing prairie strengths – pulses, potash, ag-innovation and university research – with Pakistan’s food-security, fertilizer and digital-modernization needs, creating investable projects, better trade balances and resilient people-to-people links.
Key points
- Food security fit: Pakistan imported ~118,000 tonnes of lentils in 2023, with ~28,5k tonnes from Canada – a channel where Saskatchewan, Canada’s lentil powerhouse, is decisive. World Integrated Trade Solution
- Sask advantage: Saskatchewan produces ~90% of Canada’s lentils, anchoring reliable supply for Pakistan’s pulses deficit. schoolpublicpolicy
- Fertilizer spine: Nutrien/Canpotex give Saskatchewan global reach in potash and capacity expansions on the Pacific coast are being advanced to meet Indo-Pacific demand – relevant for Pakistan’s yield push. Reuters+1
- Provincial scaffolding: The Saskatchewan State of Trade shows a strong export base; STEP and Invest Saskatchewan lower market-entry friction for firms pursuing Pakistan. Government of Saskatchewan+1
- Research bridge: University of Saskatchewan (USask) and its Global Institute for Water Security offer collaboration channels aligned to Pakistan’s water-agriculture nexus. water
Why Saskatchewan – Pakistan and why now?
Pakistan (240M people) faces ongoing pulses and fertilizer gaps, while Saskatchewan is a global pulses leader and potash hub – a uniquely complementary pairing. In 2023, Pakistan imported about 117,815 tonnes of lentils; Canada supplied ~28.5k tonnes (~US$21m) – a pipeline underpinned by Saskatchewan’s dominance in Canadian lentil output. World Integrated Trade Solution Saskatchewan’s share matters: independent academic work confirms the province accounts for ~90% of Canadian lentil production, shaping availability and price stability for buyers like Pakistan. schoolpublicpolicy
On fertilizers, Pakistan’s cropping system requires secure potash supply. Saskatchewan’s Nutrien (Saskatoon) and Canpotex (Saskatoon) market prairie potash globally and plans to boost West Coast export capacity signal more reliable flow paths into Asia – important for South Asian buyers and traders who serve Pakistan. Reuters+1
Provincially, Saskatchewan continues to post robust export performance (C$45.4B in 2024 across goods) and maintains dedicated trade-promotion infrastructure – STEP and Invest Saskatchewan – to help SMEs and majors convert opportunity into contracts. Government of Saskatchewan+1
Pulses: from commodity volumes to nutrition and brands
Pakistan’s diet relies on daal (lentils) and chickpeas. Domestic supply fluctuates; imports fill the gap. In 2023, lentil imports reached ~US$85m; Australia led, but Canada remained a key supplier. World Integrated Trade Solution Saskatchewan’s capacity and agronomy know-how reduce procurement risk for Pakistani millers, retailers and humanitarian buyers. Beyond bulk shipments, Saskatchewan firms can partner with Pakistani processors to co-develop value-added products – fortified pulses, ready-to-eat (RTE) meals and branded packs for urban retail.
There is also historical traction in chickpeas: Saskatchewan reported Pakistan among the top destinations for chickpea exports in past cycles, highlighting channel familiarity and buyer networks that can be re-activated at scale. publications.saskatchewan.ca+1
Actionable next steps: pilot long-term supply agreements (LTSA) pegged to WITS/FAO benchmarks; co-invest in cleaning/packaging in Pakistan; and deploy traceability for premium urban segments in Karachi/Lahore.
Potash & crop nutrition: stabilizing yields in a volatile climate
Pakistan’s quest to lift yields and stabilize food prices hinges on reliable nutrients. Saskatchewan’s potash – marketed worldwide via Canpotex – offers a resilient base for Pakistan’s fertilizer basket. With Nutrien evaluating a major Pacific Northwest export terminal and options to increase West Coast capacity, supply-chain resilience improves for Indo-Pacific importers that serve Pakistan directly or through regional swaps. Reuters+1
Opportunity set:
• Government-to-business dialogues aligning Pakistan’s seasonal demand with prairie supply windows.
• Risk-sharing instruments (FX hedges, inventory financing) co-designed with Pakistani importers.
• Soil-health extension: Saskatchewan agronomists and Pakistan’s provincial ag departments can jointly promote balanced K use to close yield gaps.
Water, climate and ag-innovation: university-industry coalitions
Water constraints and climate volatility affect Pakistan’s crops, post-harvest handling and urban water security. USask’s Global Institute for Water Security – a world-class program—actively cultivates international partnerships and welcomes collaboration on priority water-ag themes. water These platforms can seed industry-embedded projects: drought-tolerant varietals, irrigation scheduling, remote sensing for canal commands and loss-reduction in municipal systems.
USask’s broader research ecosystem (AgBio, engineering, public health) and partnership procedures are set up for MOUs and structured collaborations – useful for Pakistani universities, ministries and utilities seeking predictable governance and IP frameworks. internationaloffice
Programs and enablers: make it easy to say “yes”
- STEP & Invest Saskatchewan: curated exporter directories, market intel, missions and Market Access Program support to accelerate first deals and scale-ups into South Asia. Saskatchewan Trade and Invest+1
- State of Trade analytics: Saskatchewan’s official reporting provides sector and destination granularity – helpful for Pakistan-focused GTM planning and KPI setting. Government of Saskatchewan
- Trade finance & logistics: Canpotex/Nutrien logistics (rail to Pacific terminals) plus planned port capacity expansions enhance schedule reliability – key for Pakistani importers facing monsoon-season timing and FX windows. Reuters
Data table: signals to watch (post-COVID)
|
Indicator (most recent) |
Pakistan datapoint |
Saskatchewan/ Broker datapoint |
Why it matters |
|
Pakistan lentil imports, 2023) |
117,815 t total; US$85.0m |
Canada share ~28,499 t (US$21.0m) |
Confirms material Canadian role that Saskatchewan can scale and stabilize. World Integrated Trade Solution |
|
Saskatchewan share of Canadian lentils |
— |
~90% of Canada’s production |
Underwrites supply reliability and pricing power for Pakistan buyers. schoolpublicpolicy |
|
Potash export capacity trajectory |
Pakistan demand rising with yield goals |
Nutrien assessing new Pacific terminal; West Coast capacity expansion options |
Improves delivery assurance and freight economics for South Asian routes. Reuters+1 |
|
Saskatchewan total exports (2024) |
— |
C$45.4B |
Strong base to support sector diversification into Pakistan. Government of Saskatchewan |
|
Collaboration platforms |
Water stress; ag modernization priorities |
USask GIWS, partnership pathways |
Ready institutional bridge for funded pilots with academic-industry consortia. water |
What audience can do next
- Policymakers: convene a Saskatchewan–Pakistan Food & Fertilizer Roundtable (public + private + universities) every six months; align tariff/NTB clarity, SPS protocols and FX/inventory facilitation windows around Pakistan’s buying seasons. Use State-of-Trade metrics as the dashboard. Government of Saskatchewan
- Investors: focus on LTSA-backed pulse processing, K-fertilizer distribution JV and cold-chain + fortified foods in Pakistan’s tier-1 cities; de-risk with STEP support and mixed-currency hedges. Saskatchewan Trade and Invest
- Academics: structure USask–Pakistan projects on irrigation analytics, seed resilience, and water-health links; target outputs that spin off licensable tools and field pilots with local utilities/agribusinesses. water
- General public & diaspora: champion Saskatchewan brands in Pakistan’s retail and Pakistan-origin brands in Saskatoon/Regina stores; support internships that shuttle talent both ways.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s structural needs – reliable pulses, balanced crop nutrition and water-smart agriculture – match Saskatchewan’s strengths in lentils, potash and ag-innovation. The numbers confirm immediate lanes: Pakistan’s significant lentil imports with Canada’s steady share and rising Indo-Pacific potash demand backed by Saskatchewan producers’ capacity plans. With STEP/Invest Saskatchewan simplifying entry and USask providing research scaffolding, the corridor can move from spot shipments to long-term supply, value-added processing and co-developed technology. Done well, Prairie-to-Indus partnerships will raise yields, stabilize food prices, create quality jobs and deepen trust on both sides. water+3World Integrated Trade Solution+3Reuters+3
* Dr. Muhammad Jahanzaib is the Founder & Chief Visionary Officer (CVO) of Diamanium Thinkers, a global think tank. He holds a PhD in International Relations, specializing in the intersection of politics and economics in Pakistan’s foreign and domestic policy. A double gold medalist and published scholar, he writes on economic intelligence, economic diplomacy, political economy, AI and regional cooperation in South Asia and beyond. He can be reached at jahanzaibdgc@gmail.com.
Key references (titles & URLs)
- Pakistan Dried Lentils Imports by Country (2023) – WITS/UN Comtrade — https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/PAK/year/2023/tradeflow/Imports/partner/ALL/product/071340
- Canadian Share within Pakistan’s Lentil Imports (2023) – WITS/UN Comtrade — https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/PAK/year/2023/tradeflow/Imports/partner/ALL/product/071340
- Saskatchewan Produces ~90% of Canada’s Lentils – USask School of Public Policy (2024) — https://www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca/csip/documents/research-paper-summaries/20234-06-20-suppliers-and-processors-interviews-final.pdf
- Nutrien Plans Major Pacific Northwest Terminal to Boost Potash Exports (2025) – Reuters — https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/canadas-nutrien-plans-major-pacific-northwest-terminal-boost-potash-exports-2025-05-28/
- Nutrien Weighing Options to Increase West Coast Potash Capacity (2025) – Argus — https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news-and-insights/latest-market-news/2695214-nutrien-weighing-options-to-increase-potash-exports
- Saskatchewan State of Trade 2024 – Government of Saskatchewan (PDF) — https://www.saskatchewan.ca/-/media/news-release-backgrounders/2025/may/state-of-trade-2024-4577.pdf
- Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership (STEP) — https://sasktrade.com/
- Invest Saskatchewan – Trade & Export — https://investsk.ca/trade/
- Global Institute for Water Security – University of Saskatchewan — https://water.usask.ca/international.php