ISLAMABAD: Principally approving the formation of the Pakistan Cotton Authority (PCA), Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday called for effective legislation to protect farmers’ rights.

PCA’s formation was principally approved to “ensure the provision of quality seed, monitoring and enhancing the yield”.

According to Prime Minister Office, PM Khan presided over a meeting on the agriculture sector and discussed enhancing the cotton yield.

He said the government was providing a subsidy on modern agricultural equipment, quality seed and fertiliser. “The benefits of subsidy must be extended to the farmers through the Kissan Card scheme,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.

Regarding fresh legislation, he said it should be made in coordination with all stakeholders to protect farmers’ rights. During the meeting, approval was also given to form an inter-ministerial committee to provide quality cotton seed and approve the promulgation of new laws to protect farmers’ rights. The participants were told that a stock of 4.7 million tonnes of wheat was available in the country and both the federal and provincial governments were providing a subsidy worth Rs15.5 billion.

PM says benefits of subsidy must be extended to farmers

It was told that a farmers’ forum had been created under Federal Food Security Minister Syed Fakhar Imam to ensure the representation of farmers in policymaking and for early resolution of their issues.

The prime minister also approved a proposal to hold the National Cotton Conference and directed the Ministry of Industries to prepare a feasibility report on the establishment of plants for indigenous production of diammonium phosphate, the world’s most widely used phosphorus fertiliser.

Federal ministers Shaukat Tarin, Syed Fakhar Imam, Commerce Adviser Abdul Razak Dawood, Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Hussain Jahanian and senior officers also attended the meeting.

PM meets Greece minister

Later, in a separate meeting with Panagiotis Mitarachi, the minister for migration and asylum of Greece (officially the Hellenic Republic), the prime minister said illicit financial flows from developing countries to the developed countries depleted the resources of developing nations and the phenomenon also manifested itself in creating issues like illegal migration.

Mr Mitarachi called on the prime minister along with his accompanying delegation at Prime Minister House.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Khan underlined the importance Pakistan attached to its cooperative ties with Greece and stressed the need for increasing collaboration in diverse fields, including migration.

He stressed the need for stemming illicit financial flows and finding ways to establish pathways to legal migration. In this context, the prime minister appreciated Greece’s initiative of establishing legal migration channels which will open avenues for skilled Pakistani workers.

Prime Minister Khan underlined the urgency of addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and preventing an economic meltdown.

He stressed that it was imperative to release frozen Afghan assets to alleviate the sufferings of the country’s 40 million citizens, as it would help build a sustainable economy and prevent mass exodus of Afghans to other countries.

Mr Mitarachi highlighted the importance of Greece-Pakistan relations and regular bilateral exchanges. While conveying cordial greetings of the prime minister of the Hellenic Republic, he also conveyed his invitation to the prime minister to visit Greece.

The Greek minister appreciated the Pakistani community’s productive role in the economy of Greece and also outlined the proposed plan for legal migration channels between the two countries.

Pakistan and the Hellenic Republic enjoy friendly relations and a 60,000-strong Pakistani diaspora is an important economic and cultural bridge between the two countries. Mr Mitarachi’s visit is expected to improve bilateral ties.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2022