ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research at its meeting here on Tuesday scrutinised the ministry’s budgetary proposals and approved 78 projects worth Rs38.25 billion for incorporation in the Public Sector Development Programme for fiscal year 2015-16.

The projects include 16 ongoing projects costing Rs2220.64 million; 13 new projects worth Rs346.8 million and 49 unapproved projects.

Of the total, 54 projects are in the agricultural research submitted by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council. The projects costing Rs5112.33 million included 14 ongoing, 8 new projects and 32 unapproved schemes.

Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan also attended the meeting and thanked members for approving the ministry’s budgetary proposals.

He said that promotion of the agricultural sector was top priority of the government.

He said that the government had already approved export of 1.2 million tons of surplus wheat and it was currently negotiating with the government of Tajikistan for the export of wheat.

The Economic Coordination Committee of the cabinet recently agreed to life a ban on the export of wheat and wheat flour, which was a good news for the agricultural community, he said.

He asked the committee to persuade provincial governments to raise their budget ceiling for the livestock sector to increase income of poor farmers who were solely dependent on this sector for their livelihood.

He said the federal government was taking steps to help farmers boost crop and livestock production to ensure food security.

The meeting presided over by MNA Malik Shakir Bashir Awan recommended imposition of excise duty to safeguard interests of the local livestock sector.

The NA standing committee showed its resentment over the non-availability of space in the national reserves as wheat harvesting season has begun in Sindh. The committee set up a sub-committee over the issue of importing sub-standard wheat from Ukraine.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2015

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