ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday stressed on the need for public and private sectors to collaborate and formulate a policy which will strengthen and promote agriculture in the county.

“In order to ensure food security and to address the issues faced by farmers, there is a need to prepare a comprehensive plan with input from agriculturalists,” PM Abbasi said.

He was speaking to a delegation of agriculturists. Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikander Hayat Khan Bosan was also present in the meeting.

Issues relating to the agriculture sector including cost of production, productivity, marketability and competitiveness of local agri-products and challenges faced by farmers came under discussion.

Export potential of the sector and new opportunities generated under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor were also discussed.

The prime minister formed a committee comprising the representatives of the ministries of finance and commerce, Federal Board of Revenue and agriculturists to review and overcome issues pertaining to input prices, taxes and over-billing of electricity charges.

Mr Abbasi assured the agriculturists of continued support of the government.

He appreciated the role of the agriculture sector towards employment, economic growth and ensuring food security in the country.

The agriculture sector remained a key priority of the government and every effort was being made to facilitate farmers, especially small farmers to flourish and contribute towards economic growth, the prime minister stressed.

Talking to Dawn after the meeting, Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Khokhar said the prime minister had agreed to review over-billing of power supply. In this regard, teams will review the issue district-wise, he added.

The newly-formed committee will also review the prices of fertilisers since there is no balance in pricing due to GST, he said.

The delegation included Imdad Nizamani, Syed Nadeem Shah, Sahibzada Qudratullah, Maseer Muhammad Maidakhel, Malik A Rehman Lang, Mian Umair Masood, Chaudhry Rizwan Iqbal, and Mian Ghulam Mustafa Wattoo.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2017