ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed that the government and relevant institutions will have to work together to trigger the second agriculture revolution in the country.
Addressing the National Seminar on Agriculture and Food Security, the prime minister said the Gulf Countries are ready to invest in Green Pakistan Initiative which will enhance our agriculture productivity and equip it with the latest technology.
He said the initiative to likely to attract investment to the tune of $30-50 billion in the next four to five years. He said this will also provide job opportunities to four million people.
He credited Army Chief General Asim Munir for envisioning this initiative. He expressed confidence that agriculture economy will revive in the next two years.
The prime minister assured to extend full facilitation to the farmers in order to bolster agri-productivity. He said it is the responsibility of the government to provide conducive environment to the farmers through provision of quality seeds, pesticides and fertilizers.
He added that farmers should also get due price of their crops. He said the country witnessed record wheat production this year as the government enhanced the wheat support price. He expressed the confidence that the cotton crop will also see a major boost due increase in minimum support price.
The prime minister said Pakistan is spending $4.5 billion on the import of edible oil. He said the country cannot afford this situation.
Agriculture experts and farmers highly appreciated the government’s landmark initiative and Pakistan Army’s special focus on revolutionizing the agriculture sector by promoting modern contemporary technology, collaboration of public and private sectors and trickling down dividends to the local farmers to alleviate poverty.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir assured army’s full support for all initiatives being initiated under the ‘Special Investment Facilitation Council’ including Green Pakistan Initiative to boost the agriculture sector.
General Asim Munir expressed the confidence that Pakistan will achieve progress and development and no power on the earth can stop this from happening.
“Allah Almighty has blessed Pakistan with many resources. We are a capable nation, which has the potential to rise to the top. He emphasized the need that everybody should contribute to its development,” he said, adding they have gathered to make Pakistan green once again.
