Convener of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Committee on Food, Shahid Imran, on Sunday said that Pakistan could save billions of dollars in foreign exchange annually by bringing more cultivable land under sugarcane, pulses and wheat cultivation, thereby reducing dependence on costly food imports.
Pakistan can save billions by boosting domestic food production: FPCCI
LAHORE, Jul 26 (APP): Convener of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Committee on Food, Shahid Imran, on Sunday said that Pakistan could save billions of dollars in foreign exchange annually by bringing more cultivable land under sugarcane, pulses and wheat cultivation, thereby reducing dependence on costly food imports.
Talking to a delegation of women entrepreneurs led by Nida Tariq Ch, he stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy to increase domestic production of essential food commodities, improve crop yields, and ensure the efficient utilization of agricultural land.
He said the country should focus on modern farming practices, high-yielding and climate-resilient seed varieties, efficient irrigation systems, mechanization, and the timely availability of quality agricultural inputs. He also underlined the importance of strengthening agricultural research and extension services to help farmers adopt profitable cropping patterns.
Shahid Imran noted that Pakistan spends a substantial amount of foreign exchange on importing pulses, wheat, and other food items to bridge the gap between domestic production and consumption. He said coordinated efforts by the government, the private sector, and the farming community could enhance food security, conserve valuable foreign exchange, and strengthen the national economy.
Speaking on the occasion, delegation leader Nida Tariq Ch stated that Pakistan’s food import bill rose to $9.1 billion in FY2025-26, driven largely by higher imports of sugar and edible oil.
She said palm oil accounted for the largest share of food imports, followed by pulses, tea, soybean oil, and sugar. Citing official trade data, she noted that Pakistan imported 309,545 tonnes of sugar during FY2025-26, compared to only 3,508 tonnes in the previous fiscal year, while the import value surged to $175.182 million from $3.508 million.
She added that pulse imports declined by 18.13 percent to $832.038 million from $1.016 billion, whereas soybean oil imports dropped by 68.41 percent to $108.683 million during the outgoing fiscal year.
