A delegation of leading Chinese agricultural machinery manufacturers visited Agriculture House in Lahore and met with Punjab Minister for Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and Secretary Agriculture Punjab Iftikhar Ali Sahu to discuss setting up manufacturing plants in the province.
The minister said practical measures are being introduced under the Chief Minister Punjab’s vision to accelerate farm mechanization, and that special incentives and facilities will be offered to Chinese companies. He noted that Punjab accounts for 70 percent of Pakistan’s agriculture, that Rs 35 billion has been invested in agricultural mechanization over the past two years, and that modern equipment is currently being provided to farmers at a 60 percent subsidy.
Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahu highlighted China as a global leader in modern agricultural technology and emphasised the strong potential for an agriculture-related industry in Punjab. He said memorandums of understanding with Chinese firms for sector development are in the final stages, underlining a clear path to local production.
The Chinese delegation expressed keen interest in establishing state of the art plants to manufacture agricultural machinery in Punjab, noting their equipment is already exported to 25 countries. They indicated locally made machines would be tailored to farmers’ purchasing power and local requirements, supporting wider adoption of mechanization across the province.
