ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to launch an urgent and wide-ranging plan to reform Pakistan’s agriculture sector. The goal is to boost crop production, cut costs for farmers, and modernize farming through new technology, easy loans, and close coordination with provinces.
Chairing a high-level meeting on Wednesday, the prime minister emphasized the need for a sustainable agricultural strategy in partnership with the provinces. He said these reforms would start with offering easy loans to farmers under a public-private partnership model.
To ensure transparency in lending, he ordered immediate reforms in Zarai Taraqqiati Bank, which plays a key role in providing agricultural loans.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the upcoming Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) will place agriculture at the top of the government’s development priorities. The focus will be on introducing modern farming machinery, digital solutions, pro-farmer policies, and easy access to credit.
He said these reforms aim to uplift farmers, improve rural livelihoods, and strengthen the overall economy. The livestock sector will also be a key part of the government’s agricultural development plan.
The prime minister called for full cooperation between federal and provincial governments to implement short- and long-term strategies for expanding storage facilities and cutting post-harvest losses.
To increase agricultural exports, he emphasized the importance of agricultural zoning and value chain development. He also stressed the need to promote modern technology designed for small-scale farmers and suggested the creation of digital platforms to deliver real-time information to the farming community.
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Officials also briefed the meeting on the National Agriculture Innovation and Growth Action Plan, which focuses on increasing farmers’ income, improving crop yields, simplifying business regulations, and ensuring a more supportive environment for agricultural growth.
It was also shared that a new loan scheme for farmers is in the works, and secure storage facilities are being planned. The prime minister was informed that artificial intelligence can help increase per-acre yield, and value-added agricultural products could bring in more foreign exchange through exports.
The meeting was attended by ministers Dr. Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Dr. Musadik Masood Malik, Prime Minister’s Chief Agriculture Coordinator Ahmad Umair, private sector agriculture experts, and senior officials.
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