KARACHI: The United Nations and the US have joined hands with Pakistan to improve soil fertility in the Balochistan province where scarcity of rains has created a drought like situation over the past couple of years, officials said on Tuesday.
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province, spread across 347,190 square kilometers, constituting 39.36 percent of the country’s land area.
Mina’ Dowlatchahi, an official at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Islamabad, said that the project — which is aimed at educating the farmers on how to identify soil fertility levels — is an initiative of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“Information provided will not only benefit the private sector but also facilitate public institutions in order to help farmers increase their yields in a sustainable manner,” Dowlatchahi told Arab News.
Dr. Waqar Ahmed, an official from PARC, said that the project will cover the entire Balochistan province, with farmers from the area expected to benefit from the initiative. The Soil Fertility Atlas for Balochistan was launched at a ceremony in Islamabad on Monday, Dowlatchahi said
“The US’ 50-year commitment to collaborate with Pakistan to strengthen its agricultural sector and rural communities continue to benefit the farming community of Pakistan,” a statement released after the ceremony, and shared with Arab News, read.
The atlas is part of an ongoing effort to manage soil fertility and promote sustainable agricultural intensification, in addition to providing a comprehensive account of soil types and their current fertility status, native best management practices, and fertilizer use trends to help Pakistan’s farmers and fertilizer producers implement best practices for increased crop productivity, Dowlatchahi added.
In her welcome address at the event, Dowlatchahi, the FAO representative in Pakistan said: “The atlas is an important addition to the series of soil fertility atlases which will be instrumental in addressing the lack of data in managing soil fertility in Pakistan. Soil maps based on agro-ecological zones have been made part of the Balochistan atlas. There is a need for raising awareness and increasing knowledge of farmers in addition to engaging with the public and private sector to ensure sustainable agriculture development in Pakistan.”
UN, US to help Pakistan improve soil quality in Balochistan
UN, US to help Pakistan improve soil quality in Balochistan
- To share expertise and technology in order to improve economic opportunities for farmers
- Province covers 39.36% of the country’s land area but very little of it is fertile
Pakistan stocks recover as oil supply fears ease after Islamabad seeks Red Sea route— analyst
- Pakistan has sought Saudi help to secure oil supplies via Red Sea port after Iran’s closure of Strait if Hormuz
- Analyst says higher crude oil prices, expectations of IMF releasing next loan tranche also triggered bullish activity
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani stocks marked a sharp recovery when trading closed on Thursday, as institutional activity increased following Islamabad’s move to seek crude oil supplies through the Red Sea port eased oil supply fears, a financial analyst said.
Pakistani stocks have recorded a sharp decline this week, with the benchmark KSE-100 index recording its largest-ever single-day decline on Monday when it plunged 16,089 points. Escalating conflict in the Middle East triggered panic selling at the Pakistani bourse, forcing a temporary trading halt on Monday.
The KSE-100 index, however, gained 3.49 percent or 5,433.46 points to close at 161,210.67 when trading ended on Thursday, up from the previous close of 155,777.21 points, according to Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) data.
Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik met Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki on Wednesday to discuss Iran’s closure of the key Strait of Hormuz, which has threatened Pakistan’s energy supply. Roughly 20 percent of the global oil and gas supply passes through the route. Saudi Arabia indicated it could facilitate shipments through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, offering an alternative route if Gulf shipping lanes remain disrupted, the petroleum ministry said on Wednesday.
“Stocks staged a sharp recovery at PSX amid institutional activity on easing fuel supply fears after KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia] commits oil supplies through the Red Sea port,” Ahsan Mehanti, chief executive officer at Arif Habib Commodities, told Arab News.
He said higher global crude oil prices and expectations of the International Monetary Fund releasing its next tranche of the $7 billion loan for Pakistan also helped bullish activity at the PSX.
An IMF mission was in Pakistan to hold talks on the third review of a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility multi-year program, and for the second review of the $1.4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility this week.
However, the delegation left for Türkiye amid tensions in the Gulf. Pakistani officials have said talks are likely to continue virtually in the coming days.
Pakistani brokerage Topline Securities said in its daily market review report that strong institutional buying “turned the tide” on Thursday after the market’s recent overreaction to regional issues.
The report added that Hub Power Company (HUBC), Oil & Gas Development Company (OGDC), Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), Engro Corporation (ENGROH), and Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL) collectively contributed 2,197 points to the KSE benchmark’s gain.
Topline Securities said 723 million shares were traded on Thursday, with K-Electric Limited (KEL) stealing the spotlight as more than 1.17 billion shares changed hands.
Pakistani investors are closely monitoring developments in the Gulf, particularly around energy routes and further retaliatory actions, as the conflict’s trajectory remains uncertain.
