Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that agriculture and food security are crucial pillars of Pakistan’s economy, officials said Thursday. He chaired a meeting on national food security and agricultural research, directing provincial governments, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir to strengthen consultation processes for the agriculture roadmap.
The premier instructed officials to maintain contact with scholars trained in China on agricultural research and incorporate their recommendations into Pakistan’s reform agenda. He was briefed on the Strategic Roadmap for Agriculture and Food Security, highlighting the creation of a National Food and Agriculture Security Council across all federal units.
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The roadmap is based on five key pillars aimed at achieving a stable, competitive, and resilient agricultural and food system. Initiatives include enhancing food security measures, promoting private sector involvement in agricultural exports, and prioritizing climate-resilient crop cultivation and coordinated research.
Officials were informed that the plan also focuses on improving public nutrition, creating a dashboard to monitor storage, preservation, and mechanization, and digitalizing agricultural regulations. Farmers will gain access to farm and non-farm credit, while programs to improve crop nutritional quality and biofortified food development will be launched.
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Targeted packages will be provided to boost agriculture in ten underdeveloped districts. The roadmap also introduces an “Agri-Graduates Utilization Scheme” to strengthen research and encourage adoption of modern farming practices nationwide.