The second agricultural revolution and four million new jobs would both be brought about by the Green Pakistan Initiative, the prime minister claimed on Monday.
The second agricultural revolution and four million new jobs would both be brought about by the Green Pakistan Initiative, the prime minister claimed on Monday.
Speaking at a seminar on agriculture and food security, he said that farmers would go down in history as Pakistan’s builders because they worked so hard to provide food for millions of people.
He asserted that farmers had a legal right to take advantage of incentives for the agricultural industry and that it was the government’s duty to offer them all available support for their general advancement. He continued, “Farmers put in a lot of effort, but it is well known that they are struggling with a lack of resources.
The prime minister predicted that Pakistan’s agricultural sector would grow and eventually catch up to developed nations.
He added that the green revolution of the 1960s was a result of the introduction of new seed varieties, the construction of dams and canals, and modern agricultural practises in the nation. He stressed the importance of hard work in ensuring Pakistan’s progress.
He argued that farmers should make more money than it costs them to produce their crops, including wheat. According to him, the government did raise the wheat support price, which resulted in record wheat production.
He believed that the government’s incentives would result in increased cotton production.
He asserted that it was the duty of the government to give farmers access to the most recent technology as well as standard seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides.
PM was grateful for the new agriculture initiative’s provision of real-time information regarding any pest attacks.
He expressed concern over the tainted medications given to farmers and threatened harsh punishment for offenders.
He praised the Army Chief’s plans for the growth of the nation’s agricultural industry. The federal, provincial, agricultural departments, and research institutions must work together to implement the vision for agriculture, he continued.
He stated that the government was prepared to provide funding for the centres for agricultural research, but regretted that no worthwhile work had been done because of the culture of favouritism.
The PM claimed that state-owned businesses lost Rs. 600 billion annually. The national economy of Pakistan was burdened by the $4.5 billion in palm oil imports, he said.
He added that Pakistan once produced more staple crops than its neighbour, but that it later lost its way and began to produce fewer of them. Pakistan could not afford to take out more foreign loans, so it was forced to borrow money from friendly nations to keep its economy from going into default, he said.
The Gulf nations, according to the PM, are prepared to invest in the agricultural industry and supply the nation with cutting-edge machinery to increase crop production.
According to him, Pakistan needed political stability to entice investment because businesses shied away from unstable environments.
In the years to come, Pakistan could draw investments worth $40 to $50 billion and export food to the gulf nations, which were currently importing $40 billion worth of food.
According to him, Pakistan must increase exports in order to compete with the rest of the world, and the economy will recover within the next two years.
Strengthening the nation’s food and economic security is a requirement for national security, he said.
The Chief of Army Staff General, meanwhile, was a special guest at the seminar.
Additionally, he addressed the attendees and assured them of the Army’s full support for all initiatives undertaken within the purview of the Special Facilitation Investment Council (SFIC), including the Green Pakistan Initiative.
Federal ministers, chief ministers of Punjab and Sindh, chief secretaries of provincial governments, agricultural experts, and farmers from every province were present at the seminar.
The seminar was also attended by foreign dignitaries, potential investors, and experts from the UK, Italy, Spain, China, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and other nations.
The Green Pakistan initiative aims to increase exports, decrease imports of agriculture, and improve food security in Pakistan, all of which will benefit the national economy. Agriculture experts and farmers have expressed their appreciation for the Pakistan Army’s emphasis on contemporary technology, partnership between the public and private sectors, and benefits for regional farmers.
The seminar was hailed as a success and a first step towards positive change in the agriculture and livestock sectors. It was attended by experts, government representatives, and potential investors.