Latest news with #NationalAgri-InnovationPlan
Business Recorder
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan govt takes step towards agri sector reforms
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday instructed relevant authorities to formulate a long-term and sustainable policy aimed at advancing the country's agro-industrial sector. The directive from the prime minister comes as part of a broader strategy to enhance agricultural productivity, combat climate change, and promote economic resilience. Chairing a high-level meeting on agricultural sector reforms, Sharif emphasised the importance of modernising the country's agriculture through coordinated efforts involving provincial governments and key stakeholders. Wheat sector reforms in Pakistan: Punjab's Electronic Warehouse Receipts regime to the rescue 'The agriculture sector holds immense potential for driving Pakistan's economic development,' he added. 'With fertile land, skilled professionals, and hardworking farmers, we must harness these resources to achieve self-sufficiency.' Sharif called for the development of a National Agri-Innovation Plan, with a focus on research and modern technology to increase crop yields and sustainability. He also urged the expansion of agricultural loans under favourable terms, and reforms to the existing seed certification system to promote the use of high-quality seeds. He also said that a regulatory framework for the agricultural sector is also to be developed, with an emphasis on facilitating technological integration and ensuring environmental sustainability. The meeting included presentations from a working group on agricultural reforms, and was attended by federal ministers, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Ahad Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Musadik Malik, and senior government officials. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Govt takes step towards agri sector reforms
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday instructed relevant authorities to formulate a long-term and sustainable policy aimed at advancing the country's agro-industrial sector. The directive from the prime minister comes as part of a broader strategy to enhance agricultural productivity, combat climate change, and promote economic resilience. Chairing a high-level meeting on agricultural sector reforms, Sharif emphasised the importance of modernising the country's agriculture through coordinated efforts involving provincial governments and key stakeholders. Wheat sector reforms in Pakistan: Punjab's Electronic Warehouse Receipts regime to the rescue 'The agriculture sector holds immense potential for driving Pakistan's economic development,' he added. 'With fertile land, skilled professionals, and hardworking farmers, we must harness these resources to achieve self-sufficiency.' Sharif called for the development of a National Agri-Innovation Plan, with a focus on research and modern technology to increase crop yields and sustainability. He also urged the expansion of agricultural loans under favourable terms, and reforms to the existing seed certification system to promote the use of high-quality seeds. He also said that a regulatory framework for the agricultural sector is also to be developed, with an emphasis on facilitating technological integration and ensuring environmental sustainability. The meeting included presentations from a working group on agricultural reforms, and was attended by federal ministers, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Ahad Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Musadik Malik, and senior government officials. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PM calls for national agri-innovation plan and regulatory overhaul
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting on agricultural reforms in Islamabad on May 15, 2025. Photo: PID Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the relevant authorities to formulate a sustainable, long-term policy for agro-industrial development to promote agriculture and forestry—key sectors in mitigating the impact of climate change, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported. While chairing a meeting on agricultural sector reforms, the prime minister emphasised that the government is focused on modernising agriculture to achieve self-sufficiency. He instructed officials to devise a coordinated strategy in consultation with the provinces and all relevant stakeholders. Highlighting the vast potential of Pakistan's agricultural sector for rapid economic development, the prime minister noted that the country is endowed with fertile land, skilled agricultural experts, and hardworking farmers. Read more: Low cotton, maize output a setback He further directed that agricultural loans be provided to farmers on easy terms and stressed the importance of boosting agricultural research to enhance productivity. Additionally, he also instructed the concerned departments to present a National Agri-Innovation Plan aimed at driving innovation across the sector. The premier also called for the acceleration of ongoing reforms in the certification system for agricultural seeds and the formulation of a comprehensive action plan to promote the use of high-quality seeds. Underscoring the government's commitment to modernising agriculture, he ordered the development of a robust regulatory framework to support innovation and technology adoption in the sector. During the meeting, proposals were presented by the working group established for agricultural reforms. The meeting was attended by federal ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Musadik Malik, along with senior government officials. This development comes as Pakistan's agriculture sector is facing significant challenges. According to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) and Topline Research, the sector's growth rate dropped to 1.1% in the second quarter of FY 2024–25, down from 6.1% in the same quarter of FY 2023–24. The sharp decline has been largely attributed to a 31% fall in cotton production and a 15.4% drop in maize output, both of which are vital to the sector's overall performance. Read more: CM unveils plan to boost agriculture sector Additionally, gram crop yields have seen a sharp downturn in the rain-fed Thal region, where prolonged drought and the effects of climate change have devastated hundreds of acres of farmland, pushing local farmers into financial distress. Earlier this month, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed the provincial agriculture department to develop a four-year package for small growers to strengthen the province's agricultural system and support vulnerable farmers.
