PMr Shehbaz Sharif predicted on Monday that Pakistan may increase its food exports to the Gulf states within two years and attract an investment of $40 billion to $50 billion in the years ahead.
Speaking at a symposium on agriculture and food security, he called farming the “backbone of the country,” noting the efforts of farmers who make it possible for millions of people to eat every day. He predicted that four million new employment would be created as a result of the Green Pakistan Initiative’s focus on agriculture.
He argued that improving the country’s food and economic security was necessary to protect the country as a whole. The premier is worried about the distribution of tainted medications to farmers and has threatened severe punishment.
PM said that the government should do everything in its power to help the agricultural sector, including giving farmers access to incentives. He predicted that improved agricultural output would eventually place Pakistan on level with other wealthy nations.
PM referred to green revolution
The Green Revolution of the 1960s, he added, was the result of the introduction of new seed kinds, the construction of dams and canals, and contemporary agricultural practices. He argued that wheat producers in particular deserved higher prices than the market would bear. He also noted that record wheat output could be attributed to the government’s decision to raise the support price of wheat.
He expressed confidence that cotton output would increase in response to government incentives and emphasized that it was the government’s duty to supply farmers with high-quality seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and machinery. Mr. Sharif was appreciative of the new farm program’s provision of real-time updates on the status of any pest infestations.
The PM voiced alarm over the distribution of tainted medications to farmers and threatened severe consequences for those responsible. He praised Army Chief Syed Asim Munir for his plans to improve the country’s agricultural sector.
The federal and provincial governments, agriculture agencies, and research institutes “must work together to implement the vision for agriculture,” he stated. He claimed that the government was willing to provide funding for agricultural research facilities but that no useful work had been done so far because of a pervasive culture of favoritism.
PM reported annual losses of Rs600 billion at state-owned firms. He pointed out that the $4.5 billion spent importing palm oil was a financial hardship for Pakistan. He said that whereas Pakistan had produced more cotton than its neighboring countries, it has since fallen behind and is now producing fewer staple crops.
He continued by saying that Pakistan has to take out loans from friendly countries to prevent economic collapse.
The PM announced that Gulf countries were willing to invest in agriculture and bring cutting-edge machinery to increase agricultural productivity. He continued by saying that investors were wary of Pakistan because of the country’s political instability.
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