Pakistan calls for stronger agricultural and food security cooperation with Egypt

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, speaking during a ceremony marking the national day of Egypt in Islamabad, Pakistan, on July 3, 2025. (Government of Pakistan)
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Updated 04 July 2025
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Pakistan calls for stronger agricultural and food security cooperation with Egypt

  • Pakistan’s food security minister praises Egypt for arid farming and climate-smart technologies
  • He also acknowledges Egypt’s support on global issues and cooperation at multilateral forums

KARACHI: Pakistan on Thursday called for enhanced collaboration with Egypt in agricultural science, biotechnology and food security, citing Egyptian expertise in climate-smart technologies and arid farming during a ceremony held in Islamabad.

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain represented Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the event marking Egypt’s National Day, which brought together diplomats, government officials and members of the business community.

“Referring to Egypt’s impressive progress in agricultural development, the Minister called for enhanced collaboration in areas such as agricultural science, seed development, arid farming, capacity building, drip irrigation and climate-smart technologies, where Egypt has notable expertise,” said an official statement issued after the ceremony.

“Hussain emphasized the importance of joint initiatives in food security, biotechnology and sustainable agricultural practices,” it continued.

“He said that Pakistan and Egypt’s shared experience in managing water-scarce environments offers an opportunity for meaningful partnerships between research institutions and private sectors in both nations.”

The minister acknowledged Egypt’s support to Pakistan on regional and international matters and praised the ongoing cooperation at multilateral forums such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations.

Noting the revival of the Pakistan–Egypt Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), Hussain said both governments are working to finalize new bilateral agreements in trade, agriculture, higher education and cultural exchange.

Egypt’s agricultural sector is on an upward trajectory and has witnessed a strong export performance, though environmental constraints remain a concern.


Rating firm S&P says it won’t rush Iran war downgrades, sees risks for countries like Pakistan

Updated 12 March 2026
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Rating firm S&P says it won’t rush Iran war downgrades, sees risks for countries like Pakistan

  • Agency says it is monitoring indebted energy importers as higher oil prices strain finances
  • Gulf economies seen better placed to weather shock, though Bahrain flagged as vulnerable

LONDON: S&P Global ‌said it would not make any knee-jerk sovereign rating cuts following the outbreak of war in the ​Middle East, but warned on Thursday that soaring oil and gas prices were putting a number of already cash-strapped countries at risk.

The firm’s top analysts said in a webinar that the conflict, which has involved US and Israeli strikes ‌against Iran and Iranian ‌strikes against Israel, ​US ‌bases ⁠and Gulf ​states, ⁠was now moving from a low- to moderate-risk scenario.

Most Gulf countries had enough fiscal buffers, however, to weather the crisis for a while, with more lowly rated Bahrain the only clear exception.

Qatar’s banking sector could ⁠also struggle if there were significant ‌deposit outflows in ‌reaction to the conflict, although there ​was no evidence ‌of such strains at the moment, they ‌said.

“We don’t want to jump the gun and just say things are bad,” S&P’s head global sovereign analyst, Roberto Sifon-Arevalo, said.

The longer the crisis ‌was prolonged, though, “the more difficult it is going to be,” he ⁠added.

Sifon-Arevalo ⁠said Asia was the second-most exposed region, due to many of its countries being significant Gulf oil and gas importers.

India, Thailand and Indonesia have relatively lower reserves of oil, while the region also had already heavily indebted countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka whose finances would be further hurt by rising energy prices.

“We ​are closely monitoring ​these (countries) to see how the credit stories evolve,” Sifon-Arevalo said.