ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday emphasized the need to strengthen agricultural research and directed the formulation of a national innovation framework amid growing concerns over climate change and food security.
Sharif was chairing a high-level meeting to review reforms in the agriculture sector. He said the government was modernizing farming practices to achieve self-sufficiency and unlock the sector’s full economic potential.
Pakistan has in recent years experienced a series of extreme climate events, including heatwaves, droughts and floods. In 2022, catastrophic floods submerged a third of the country, killing around 1,700 people and causing more than $35 billion in economic losses.
Last year, Pakistan deepened agricultural cooperation with Beijing during Sharif’s visit to China, where both sides agreed to train Pakistani agriculture experts and promote the use of modern technology and innovative farming practices.
“Ensure the provision of agricultural loans to farmers on easy terms,” Sharif instructed relevant officials, according to a statement issued by his office after the meeting.
“Focus on agricultural research to increase national productivity,” he added. “We need a sustainable and long-term agro-industrial development policy to boost both agriculture and forestry, which are essential to tackling climate change.”
During the meeting, the prime minister noted that Pakistan had been blessed with fertile land, capable experts and hardworking farmers, stressing the need for a coordinated strategy in consultation with all stakeholders, including provincial governments.
He instructed relevant ministries to present a National Agricultural Innovation Plan, expedite reforms in the seed certification system and devise an effective strategy to promote high-quality seeds.
He also called for the creation of a comprehensive regulatory framework to support innovation and transparency in the sector.
“Promoting modern technology in agriculture is our priority,” the PM said, reiterating his government’s commitment to transforming the sector to drive economic growth and build climate resilience.
A working group established to develop agricultural reforms also presented its proposals during the meeting, the PMO said.
