AS the prices of all essential goods, including flour, sugar and rice, are soaring higher by the day, it is time for the government to shift its focus from agriculture and work on devising comprehensive policies for the prosperity of the country in the future.

The government needs to concentrate more on export of machinery items rather than food, promote technical education among youth by ditching the age-old rote learning culture, and coordinate with other countries having advanced technologies, such as China, to acquire skill-based education instead of loans and grants.

It should offer financing schemes and easy loans for local industries and manufacturers to boost their confidence and help them thrive.

It should also ensure proper use of raw materials so that the local goods may be sold at competitive prices to other countries.

Syed Umrao Ali Shah
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2021