Collaboration helps in bringing improvement: Dr Ayesha Ghaus

LAHORE, Jan 04 (APP): Provincial Finance Minister Dr Ayesha
Ghaus Pasha said on Thursday that agriculture was among the top
priorities of the government and collaboration was always helpful
in bringing improvement.
She said this while addressing Australian Centre for
International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) Project workshop
“Creating Wealth In Smallholders’ Farms Through Efficient
Credit Systems In Pakistan” at a local hotel. The workshop
was jointly organized by the University of Queensland Business School-Australia and AGAHE Pakistan.
The minister said, “We are determined to involve
academia, private sector for helping us in implementing
policies in different fields to obtain maximum benefit”.
She said that in Punjab, a growth strategy programme
had been developed, adding that our vision was to make the
province vibrant where people could have maximum number
of opportunities.
Ayesha Ghaus Pasha said that there was need to educate
youth besides creating jobs for them so that they could be
engaged for better use of their potential.
The minister said that all impediments have to be
removed for utilizing the potential of youth efficiently.
She further said that agriculture was among the top
priorities of the government and it was launching various
initiatives for its uplift.
The Finance Minister said, “We are also trying to improve
rural economy and if strategy will be followed in right way,
the improvement will definitely be witnessed”.
She said that all stakeholders have to play role for
strengthening country’s economy.
She further said that financial inclusion was not limited
to agriculture, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) was also
under focus. She said, “We are trying to bridge micro
financing sector and borrowers”.
Punjab Agriculture Secretary Muhammad Mehmood Rai said
that efforts were being made to develop agriculture financial
markets which would help banks and specialized banks to access
small farmers.
He said, “We are trying for maximum use of technology,
creating profile of farmers besides soil profiles and all
such stuff would be put on Geographic Information System (GIS) maps”.
The secretary said that it was a five year plan once the
whole system be developed it would be a great breakthrough.
High Commissioner of Pakistan in Australia Naela Chohan
said, “Micro financing is the most good form of system for
ensuring development”.
When woman is economically empowered, this not only brings
change in her life but also ensures improvement at various
levels, she added.
She said the government was taking possible steps to
address the issues of women, adding that situation of rural
women in the country was changing but still a lot work has
to be done.
High Commissioner for Australia in Pakistan Margaret
Adamson said that agriculture was vital for the economies
of both the countries.
Private sector and value addition chain were of foremost
importance and access of finance was essential for agriculture
growth, she added.
She said that water should be used prudently otherwise it
was hard enough to excel in agriculture sector.
Other speakers shared that credit was an important
enabler for smallholders’ farm productivity and profitability
and could play a vital role in improving food security.
Recommendations included the formation of social
networking among women smallholders, raising awareness
of techniques that increase agricultural profitability
and developing partnerships between credit providers and
extension services.
Later, souvenirs were given away to speakers.