LAHORE: A two-day second CAC Pakistan Summit and Exhibition, 2016 began at the International Expo Centre on Monday with the objective to promote the agriculture sector of Pakistan.

A good number of people attended the opening ceremony and expressed their interest in the agri products displayed at over 120 stalls set up by the Chinese, Pakistani, Egyptian and Indian companies.

Punjab Minister for Industries Chaudhry Muhammad Shafiq said the exhibition would highlight the potential of the agriculture sector of Punjab, adding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would open up new doors for cooperation in the agriculture sector and would help in the transfer of technology pertaining to agro chemicals, pesticides, seeds and fertilizers.

He said the Punjab government was already working on educating the farmers about research in the agriculture sector.

Standing Committee on Agriculture Chairman Jawaid Saleem Qureshi urged the government to form a taskforce to deal with the regulatory and marketing issues of the agriculture sector.

He said Punjab’s agriculture sector could generate extra revenue of over Rs100 billion if agri input prices were controlled.

Mr Qureshi said the CAC Pakistan would provide a joint forum to government officials and industry professionals to highlight the benefits of using pesticides, fertilizers, processed seeds, latest yet affordable agriculture equipment and machinery.

Chinese Consul General Yu Boren said, “We expect great results from this exhibition and hope that this event will prove to be a perfect beginning in the right direction to bring greater fortunes to the agriculture sector of Pakistan.”

CCPIT Sub-Council for Chemical Industry Vice-Chairman Ma Chunyan said the trade of pesticides had an important role in the two-way business.

Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Sheikh Muhammad Arshad said the CAC summit and exhibition is a unique opportunity for Pakistan’s agriculturists as it would enable them to learn about the Chinese expertise in the agriculture sector.

He said Pakistan was the only South Asian country to have the CAC exhibition that would certainly strengthen the Pakistan’s agriculture sector.

Arshad said the government would have to strengthen the institutional framework to provide much needed support to this sector.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2016