Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the provision of agricultural loans to farmers on easy terms and focus on agricultural research to enhance production.
The premier issued the directives while chairing a meeting on agricultural sector reforms in Islamabad. He has directed the authorities to form a sustainable and long-term policy for agro-industrial development to boost agriculture and forestry, as well as help tackle climate change.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged the creation of a joint plan to improve the agriculture sector, involving provinces and all key stakeholders.
He said the government is working to modernize agriculture so that the country can become self-sufficient in food production.
Highlighting the importance of using agriculture’s full potential to boost economic growth, he mentioned that Pakistan has rich farmland, skilled agricultural professionals, and hardworking farmers.
The Prime Minister also directed the concerned department to prepare a National Agri-Innovation Plan to bring new ideas and technologies into the sector. He stressed the need to speed up reforms in the seed certification system and come up with a strong plan to promote the use of high-quality seeds.
During the meeting, a working group formed to improve agriculture shared its proposals. Several federal ministers, including Rana Tanveer Hussain, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Musadik Malik, along with other senior government officials, were present at the meeting.
