While presiding over a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Agriculture on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan said that the agriculture sector had not been given its due attention since 1960.
He said that agriculture is the major contributor to the growth of Pakistan and its impact on the life of the majority of farmers. Thus, he added, the agriculture sector development is the top priority of his government.
According to Dawn News, the premier directed the concerned officials to create a policy framework and a roadmap based on clear steps to revive the agriculture sector of Pakistan. He also directed to provide improved facility to farmers along with a culture for increasing productivity and yield of major crops wheat, maize, rice and sugarcane.
The meeting was attended by Special Assistants to the PM Jamshed Iqbal Cheema and Dr. Shehbaz Gill, Economic Advisory Council member Abid Qayyum Sulehri, State Bank Governor Dr. Raza Baqir, the chief secretaries of the four provinces among other officers present virtually or physically.
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PM Khan emphasized the use of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) forum to have oversight over the agriculture sector, aiding in immediate resolution of the issues faced by the farmers and other stakeholders in the industry, deterring the industry from developing.
He directed officers to have continuous monitoring of the development work taking place and have a consultation with the relevant stakeholders.
PM Khan reportedly said that the government was committed to developing the sector on priority for which all-out efforts would be made.
The meeting was also briefed in detail about the implementation of a coordinated strategy formulated in consultation with all the stakeholders as well as short-term, medium-term, and long-term roadmaps for the agriculture sector development, the revival of the livestock sector, and farmers’ prosperity.
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