ISLAMABAD (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday said that the Green Pakistan Initiative would eventually bring about the second agriculture revolution, in addition to the creation of four million jobs in the country.
Addressing a seminar on agriculture and food security, he said agriculture was the backbone of the country and the farmers worked hard to provide food to millions of people and they would be remembered in the history as builders of Pakistan. He said the farmers had the due right to avail incentives for the agriculture sector and it was the responsibility of the government to provide them all possible assistance for overall development and progress. “Farmers work hard but it is common knowledge that they are facing lack of resources,” he added. The prime minister said growth in the agriculture sector would definitely bring Pakistan at part with developed countries.
He said hard work was imperative to ensure progress of Pakistan, adding the green revolution in 1960s was due to the introduction of new varieties of seed, building of dams and canals and modern agriculture practices in the country.
He said farmers should get more profits than the cost of production of their crops including wheat. The government did increase the support price of wheat which led to record produce of the commodity, he added. He was hopeful that due to the incentives given by the government, cotton produce would also enhance. He said it was the responsibility of the government to provide standard seeds, fertilizers and pesticides to the farmers and equip them with the latest technology. Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the new agriculture initiative for giving real-time information about any pest attacks.
He expressed concern over the adulterated drugs given to the farmers and warned of strict action against the culprits.
He lauded the vision of Army Chief Syed Asim Munir for development of agriculture sector in the country. “We have to implement the vision for agriculture through collaboration among federal and provincial governments, agriculture departments and research institutes,” he added. He said the government was ready to fund the agriculture research centres, adding unfortunately there had been no worthwhile work due to the culture of favouritism.
Shehbaz Sharif said state-owned enterprises were losing Rs 600 billion annually. Pakistan imported $ 4.5 billion of palm oil which was a burden on the national economy, he noted. There was a time when Pakistan was producing more cotton than its neighbouring country but then it lost the track and was now producing less of staple crops, he said adding Pakistan could not afford more foreign loans but was forced to save its economy from default by getting loans from friendly countries, he added. The PM said gulf countries were ready to invest in the agriculture sector and bring modern machinery to boost crops production in the country.
Pakistan needed political stability to attract investment as in an unstable environment, investors shied away, he added.
Pakistan could attract investment of $ 40 to 50 billion in the years ahead and it could make food exports to the gulf countries which were presently importing food products worth $ 40 billion.
He was of the view that Pakistan had to compete with the world and increase its exports and added the economy would get revived in the next two years.
“It is demand of our national security that the country’s food security and economic security should be strengthened,” he said.
PM reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to meet UN SDGs with enhanced cooperation: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that Pakistan was keen to expand its cooperation with partner countries to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-2030.
The prime minister virtually participated in the First High-Level Forum on Global Development Initiative (GDI). Held under the theme of Global Development Initiative: “Echo the Development Agenda and Call for Global Action”, the forum was organized by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release. PM Shehbaz, in his remarks, stressed the salience of international development cooperation to present a unified global response for socio-economic development, mitigation of climate change threats, and galvanizing new drivers of growth for humanity’s enduring progress and prosperity. He also appreciated China for launching the Global Development Initiative for achieving shared goals of inclusive and sustainable global development.
Extending Pakistan’s firm support to the GDI, the prime minister said that Pakistan would continue its multifaceted cooperation with China for swift implementation of the GDI projects in Pakistan.
The event was attended by Wang Yi, member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China and Director of the General Office of CPC Foreign Affairs Commission, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Chairman CIDCA, Luo Zhaohui. Leading experts and executives from several countries and international organizations also participated in the forum.
Green Pakistan Initiative to usher in agri revolution, create four mln jobs: PM
