Islamabad (Staff Reporter)
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that agricultural reforms and introducing farmers to globally recognized practices are a top priority for the government. He directed the formulation of a comprehensive strategy to increase agricultural exports and modernize the sector.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while chairing a working group meeting on Tuesday, which comprised private sector experts tasked with enhancing agricultural exports and aligning the sector with international standards. Federal ministers, including Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Dr. Musadiq Malik, Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Attaullah Tarar, along with Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kiani, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, and other senior officials, attended the session.
PM Shehbaz Sharif noted that the government, in collaboration with provincial authorities, is working to improve per-acre crop yields by providing high-quality seeds, timely fertilizers, and necessary disease-prevention measures. He highlighted policy-level efforts to process agricultural commodities into exportable products and initiatives to increase exports of fisheries, fruits, and value-added products.
The Prime Minister also mentioned that recently, 1,000 Pakistani students were sent to China on government sponsorship to receive training in modern agricultural technologies. He instructed that a five-year roadmap be developed to enhance agricultural exports, including policy measures for palm oil production along the coastal belt.
The working group, chaired by Rana Naseem, presented a detailed report analyzing challenges and opportunities in the agriculture sector, including comparative assessments of major Rabi and Kharif crops, horticulture, dairy, and livestock. The group recommended measures to increase per-acre productivity through modern extension services and farmer training programs.
PM Shehbaz Sharif lauded the briefing and instructed that the group’s actionable recommendations be incorporated into the government’s comprehensive reform roadmap to ensure practical and sustainable progress in the agricultural sector.