Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday declared farmers’ prosperity as the top priority of his government. He directed officials to devise a comprehensive plan to increase Pakistan’s agricultural exports.
Chairing a high-level meeting, PM Shehbaz emphasized the need for reforms and the adoption of modern farming techniques aligned with global standards. He said agriculture remains the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and holds immense potential for growth if supported by policy and innovation.
The meeting included a working group of private sector experts tasked with enhancing agricultural exports and aligning Pakistan’s farming sector with international requirements. PM Shehbaz underlined that introducing farmers to modern methods and improving productivity per acre are crucial for economic growth.
Federal–provincial coordination on reforms was also highlighted. The prime minister stated that the federal government is working closely with provincial authorities to ensure the availability of quality seeds, timely fertilizers, and medicines to protect crops from diseases. He said these measures aim to boost per-acre production and promote exportable goods through agricultural processing.
He further instructed authorities to take concrete steps to increase exports of fisheries, fruits, and value-added products. PM Shehbaz also called for policy measures for palm oil production along Pakistan’s coastal belt, along with a five-year action plan to boost agricultural exports.
Officials briefed the prime minister on the development of a certification regime for processed commodities. The system will improve farmers’ profits by ensuring better value addition and competitiveness in international markets.
Highlighting investments in skills and research, PM Shehbaz noted that 1,000 Pakistani students have been sent to China for training in modern agricultural technology. He added that reforms in research institutions will help increase crop yields and promote cultivation of climate- and soil-appropriate profitable crops.
The working group, led by Rana Naseem, presented a detailed report on Pakistan’s agriculture sector, including comparative analyses of Rabi and Kharif crops, fruit production, horticulture, animal husbandry, and dairy farming in both regional and global contexts.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Dr Mosaddiq Malik, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, and senior officials from relevant departments.
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PM Shehbaz concluded that short-term reforms, quality inputs, and farmer awareness of modern practices could significantly increase Pakistan’s agricultural productivity.
