Agriculture holds potential to swiftly steer economy towards growth: PM

ISLAMABAD, Oct 13 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Tuesday, terming agriculture as the backbone of the national economy, said it has the potential to steer Pakistan’s economy on the path of development in a short span of time.

The prime minister chaired the first meeting of the National Agriculture and Food Security Council (NAFSC).

During the meeting, the prime minister observed that the livestock sector also possessed vast potential to increase national exports and the government was taking steps to increase Pakistan’s halal meat exports.

He said the federal government would provide all kinds of cooperation to the provinces for agricultural development, adding that providing farmers with low-cost fertilizer, quality seeds, modern machinery, and equipment and technical capabilities for the better use of water is a top priority.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Ministers Rana Tanvir Hussain, Dr. Musadik Malik, Jam Kamal Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema, Ahsan Iqbal, Attaullah Tarar, Khalid Hussain Magsi, Mian Moeen Wattoo, Advisors Rana Sanaullah and Haroon Akhtar, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Sindh Agriculture Minister Makhdoom Mehboob-uz-Zaman, and relevant senior officials, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The prime minister expressed his satisfaction at the availability of wheat to meet domestic requirements and warned that no leniency would be shown to those hoarding wheat.

He further stressed that ensuring a fair price for farmers’ crops, especially small and medium-scale farmers, is a priority, adding that it was necessary to determine the correct price of wheat before sowing so that farmers received appropriate compensation for their hard work.

“We want farmers to get the right price for wheat and consumers to avail of affordable wheat. The decision regarding the price of wheat will be made in consultation with the provinces,” the press release quoted him as saying.

The prime minister lauded chief minister Punjab for taking commendable steps such as farmers’ development, aquaculture, shrimp farming, and providing direct subsidies to farmers through the Kisan Card.

He also appreciated the chief minister Sindh for his hard work for the development of farmers and providing them with facilities.

During the meeting, the chief minister of Punjab and the Sindh minister for food highlighted the steps taken by their respective provincial governments for the development of farmers in their respective provinces.

During the meeting, briefings were also given on the steps taken for agricultural development in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.