ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Canada have agreed to find a solution to the long-standing fumigation issue of agro-based exports to Pakistan which amount to C$600 million.

During a meeting between Commerce Minister Pervaiz Malik and Canadian Minister for Agriculture and Agri-food, Lawrence MacAulay, in Ottawa on Tuesday, it was decided that instead of relying on ad-hoc arrangements, a permanent science-based solution should be worked out for the issue.

Mr MacAulay appreciated the economic progress Pakistan has made during the last five years and agreed to provide fresh impetus to cooperation in the agriculture field, and offered technical support to Pakistan in all areas of agro-based industry as well as a robust interaction for exchange of high level delegations in order to remove the constraints and irritants related to the fumigation issue.

While appreciating Canada’s cooperation for construction of dams and irrigation system since the 1960s, Mr Malik said that it is time for Canada to extend its support in forestry, fishing, heavy agricultural machinery and other areas of agricultural cooperation.

He said that Pakistan is an emerging economy with over 5 per cent growth rate, and offers a promising market for Canadian investments in agriculture sector.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2018