A meeting on matters related to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research was held at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Thursday under the chairmanship of Shehbaz Sharif.
Addressing participants, the prime minister said that the agriculture and food security sectors were key pillars of the country’s economy. He directed authorities to make the consultation process with provincial governments, as well as the administrations of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, more effective regarding the Agriculture Roadmap.
The prime minister also instructed officials to consult scholars trained in agricultural research from China and maintain close contact with them to help introduce reforms in Pakistan’s agriculture sector.
The meeting was briefed on the Prime Minister’s Strategic Roadmap for Agriculture and Food Security. Participants were informed that a National Food and Agriculture Security Council was being established across all federal units.
Officials told the meeting that the roadmap was based on five pillars aimed at developing a sustainable and competitive agricultural and food system. Under the plan, measures would be taken to strengthen food security, activate the private sector to increase agricultural exports, and prioritize water governance and climate-resilient crops. Research coordination would also be enhanced in these areas.
The roadmap also includes steps to improve public nutrition. A digital dashboard is being developed to monitor storage, preservation of commodities, and mechanisation in the agricultural sector. In addition, the agricultural regulatory system is being digitised.
The meeting was informed that farm and non-farm credit systems would be introduced to improve farmers’ access to capital. Efforts will also be made to increase the nutritional value of crops and promote bio-fortified food.
Targeted packages will be introduced to promote agriculture in ten underdeveloped districts of the country. The Agri-Graduates Utilisation Scheme will also be launched to promote agricultural research.
The meeting was attended by Ahad Khan Cheema, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Bilal Azhar Kayani, Haroon Akhtar, chief secretaries of the four provinces, as well as representatives from Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and other senior government officials.