Canola seed from China to improve seed safety of Pakistan

Sat, 12 Aug 2023, 11:35 AM

BEIJING, Aug. 12 (APP): China Wuhan Qingfa-Hesheng Seed Company has a plan to promote 1.2 million acres of hybrid canola from this year to the next.

500,000 tons of high-quality cooking oil and 1 million tons of high-quality rapeseed meal are expected to be produced, which can generate a revenue of around USD300 million, said Zhou Xusheng, director of the international business department of the company.

At a recently held seminar on the National Food Security theme “Green Pakistan Initiative”, Zhou gave a keynote speech entitled Pak-China Cooperation on canola technology to create a healthy oil industry, providing a solution to the shortage of healthy edible oil in Pakistan.

“We wish to cooperate with Pakistan on large modern farming of canola and its downstream industries, it will provide high-quality edible oil and animal feed for national food security. This technology development can reduce 25-30% of import bills and provide millions of jobs in related industries,” Zhou said in the speech.

“The company is working on transferring technology to Pakistan to make it efficient in smart agriculture.”

“We want to transfer the harvesting technology through which the farmers can use some attachments on their harvesters to reduce the wastage,” Zhou said.

“The company will also introduce processing units across Pakistan, through which even in villages people can install them and produce oil,” China Economic Net (CEN) reported.

Wuhan Qingfa-Hesheng had carried out the breeding of hybrid double-low rapeseed varieties in Pakistan since 2009.

There was little progress at the beginning due to the large differences in climate and cultivation between the two countries, so we developed a new breeding mindset to re-create genetic resources according to local climate characteristics and experimental data. In the end, with the assistance of molecular technology, we successfully bred HC-021C, a new hybrid canola variety with better oil content and quality, he informed.

Zhou told that HC-021C was approved and registered by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) in 2019, and thus became the first double-low rapeseed variety in the history of Pakistan.

Due to HC-021Cs excellent performance, Punjab Province provided a planting subsidy of Rs 5,000 per acre to farmers who plant it. Compared with local varieties, the oil content of HC-021C is at least 10% higher, and its yield is 5% higher.

It is very popular among the oil processing plants, Zhou Xusheng said.

“The remaining rapeseed meal can be used as high-quality feed additives. The promotion of HC-021C cultivation can be conducive to edible oil production and poultry sector in Pakistan, and thus improve the food safety of Pakistan,” he added.

Islamabad Green win Azadi Cup match

Asim Usman

Sat, 12 Aug 2023, 10:47 AM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 12 (APP): Islamabad Green downed Rawalpindi Green by 24 runs in the Women Azadi Cricket Cup at the Muslim Cricket ground, Saidpur Road, Rawalpindi.

The match was organized by Shoaib Cricket Club as part of the Independence Day Celebrations.

Islamabad team won the toss and elected to bat first. Islamabad scored 136 runs in the allotted 20 overs.

Madhia Riyasat scored 52 runs while Sana Arooj scored 31 runs. For Rawalpindi Tanya Saeed bagged two wickets.

In reply, Rawalpindi women were all out on 112 runs. Madhia was declared player of the match.

Chinese companies want to import meat, chili, other products from Pakistan: Ghulam Qadir

NNPS Desk

Sat, 12 Aug 2023, 10:41 AM

BEIJING, Aug 12 (APP): Many Chinese enterprises want to import meat, chili and other products from Pakistan and are ready to set up industrial units there, said Commercial Counselor, Pakistan Embassy Beijing, Ghulam Qadir.

He is leading a delegation of around 110 Chinese representatives from Beijing and neighboring provinces at the first International Food and Agriculture Exhibition being held in Karachi.

The Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shanghai consulates of Pakistan also led Chinese enterprises to participate.

Ghulam Qadir said that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) is organizing this event and most of the Chinese seafood and grain associations are participating in the exhibition after the signing of the protocols for meat, chili, and other products.

“This year’s theme of the exhibition is Growing a Sustainable Future, and we hope that the expo will bring international and local communities together to generate a hope for building a common future,” he said in an interview.

He said that the Chinese delegations have held Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings and they are very satisfied to explore new opportunities and smooth strategic alliances.

He expressed confidence that the expo will be a great platform for Pakistani and Chinese giants to showcase their products and services to potential customers.

“It will also provide an opportunity for the Chinese delegation to explore partnerships with local businesses and build strong relationships with Pakistani customers. In addition, this event could be a great opportunity for these companies to tap into new markets and gain greater market share in the country,” he added.

PM briefed on performance of Inspection Commission

Munir Hussain

Sat, 12 Aug 2023, 12:43 AM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 12 (APP):Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday here held a meeting with Chairman Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission Brigadier (R) Muzafar Ali Ranjha.
The Chairman of the commission informed the prime minister about performance of his department.

PM optimistic about SIFC’s ability to attract investment

Munir Hussain

Sat, 12 Aug 2023, 12:26 AM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 12 (APP):Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday said he had full faith in the success of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in attracting foreign investment.

In a interview with Pakistan Television, he said,”We have a vision and a plan and with untiring efforts and hard work the council’s work can be a great success.”

He said he was satisfied with performance of his government as things had started to improve as he was leaving, adding he successfully led a 13-parties coalition government and he listened to and respected his partners and resolved issues by working together with them.

He said his government faced numerous economic and political challenges besides mammoth floods that wreaked havoc in the country.
His government worked very hard for the deal with the International Monetary Fund(IMF) and ultimately succeeded in securing it, he told.

To a question about foreign relations, he said India’s positive attitude could lead to peace in the region.
“History shows our sincere approach with India,” he said adding, Pakistan and India could live in peace if the two countries were able to resolve their longstanding issues.

He held the the previous government of Imran Niazi responsible for causing economic and political problems and for damaging relations with friendly and brotherly countries.

PM invites coalition partners to ponder over possibility of seat adjustment in elections

Munir Hussain

Fri, 11 Aug 2023, 11:57 PM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 11 (APP):Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday invited the coalition parties in his government to sit together and ponder over the possibility of seat adjustment in the upcoming elections.

Speaking at a dinner hosted in honour of leaders of allied parties, he said allied parties had their own manifestos and would campaign for their candidates but they should work for seat adjustments in the elections in view of the challenges facing the country.

He said, “I wholly support seat adjustment among the coalition partners. The consultation will continue for seat adjustment in the elections.”

He said he would invite leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Raja Riaz for finalizing the name of the caretaker prime minister.

The process for finalizing the caretaker prime minister could take eight days because if he and the opposition leader could not reach a decision then a parliamentary committee or the Election Commission could choose the caretaker head of the government, he explained.

Unfortunately, he said President wrote him a letter to finalize the name till Saturday although his assertion was based on ignorance as still many days were left to complete the process, he added.

He said despite insurmountable difficulties, economic and political challenges, inflation and devastating floods, the coalition government remained united and worked for the betterment of Pakistan.

He admitted that the government was compelled to impose levy on petroleum products due to conditions of International Monetary Fund (IMF) which put financial burden on the people.

Inflation was high due to commodities’ prices in the international market and the war in Ukraine, he added.

He said Pakistan produced record bumper wheat crop as compared to the last year in which the country had to import wheat of $ two billion.

The coalition government also faced the political chaos, long marches and unrest caused by unruly elements, he recalled.

He said the government achieved economic and political stability and secured an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which saved the country from economic meltdown and from an imminent default.

Shehbaz Sharif said the incident of May 9, created a new wave of chaos and uncertainty in the country, adding though
the incident also exposed the people who were conspiring against Pakistan.
He remarked that Imran Niazi revolted against Pakistani state, chief of arm staff and damaged integrity of the country.
“Never in the past any political leader acted in such a manner against the Pakistani state.”

He said the issue of cypher was a dangerous development which damaged Pakistan’s relations with the United States.
The present foreign secretary and Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States Dr Asad Majeed clearly stated that the cypher did not mention that there was any conspiracy to remove the government of Imran Niazi, he elaborated.

Shehbaz said Imran Niazi vitiated the political atmosphere in the country and poisoned minds of youth with his unending and repeated lies.

He said the newly formed Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) would attract investment in the country and lead to greater progress and prosperity.