Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed the preparation of a comprehensive action plan aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and implementing vital reforms across the farming sector. In a detailed meeting held in Islamabad to review agricultural performance and ongoing reforms, the Prime Minister emphasized that enhancing crop yield, value addition, and agricultural export growth remain the government’s top priorities.
Chairing the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a detailed briefing from the Agricultural Task Force regarding the present state of the sector and progress on various government initiatives. During the session, the PM instructed stakeholders to present both short-term and long-term strategies for introducing modern machinery, ensuring the availability of high-quality seeds, geographic crop planning, and easing farmers’ access to affordable loans.
To enhance per-acre production of key agricultural commodities, the Prime Minister specifically directed the agriculture research centres across the country to intensify their research initiatives. He advocated for active collaboration between the public and private sectors, stressing the need for advanced research-based solutions to be facilitated under public-private partnerships.
Recognizing global opportunities, the Prime Minister encouraged the incorporation of artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies into Pakistan’s agriculture sector. He advised engaging internationally renowned experts to harness advanced methodologies, improve crop productivity, and foster innovation within the agricultural domain.
The meeting underscored the importance of smaller and medium-sized agro-industries focused upon the value-addition of agricultural products to increase exports. Prime Minister Sharif instructed the relevant authorities to lay out targeted measures to promote these smaller agro-based industries, particularly where export-oriented value addition is viable.
Additionally, the Prime Minister outlined specific instructions related to food security and profitability enhancement for farmers. He called for increased guidance and technical assistance to farmers for cultivating commercially profitable crops, ultimately steering Pakistan toward greater food self-sufficiency.
Highlighting the importance of stakeholder involvement, he directed authorities to ensure continuous consultations with farmers, growers, and other key stakeholders in the decision-making process. He also emphasized strengthened coordination and partnerships between the federal government and the provincial administrations for comprehensive agricultural development across the country.
Addressing the challenges posed by climate change, Prime Minister Sharif called for offering assistance to farmers adopting climate-resilient seed varieties and advanced farming practices. Moreover, he instructed thorough consultations, particularly involving the provincial governments of Sindh and Balochistan, to appropriately plan and develop suitable cultivation strategies for cotton and other crops in newly suitable regions amid shifting rainfall patterns and climate conditions.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the possibility of introducing biofuels into Pakistan’s energy mix. He directed relevant stakeholders to carry out extensive research and formulate plans exploring integration of plant-based alternative fuels to diversify and strengthen the national energy supply.
During the meeting, federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, agricultural experts, and senior officials reviewed last year’s harvest statistics for major Rabi and Kharif crops, analyzed challenges faced by farmers, evaluated progress on current agricultural reforms, and assessed climate impacts on farming communities. At the conclusion, Prime Minister Sharif instructed authorities to promptly finalize and submit the comprehensive agriculture reform plan aimed at revitalizing Pakistan’s agriculture sector.
