LAHORE, Nov 18: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Friday directed the agriculture department to reorganize research sector and submit a report within a week. Presiding over a meeting here he directed the officials in plain terms to concentrate on implementing the decisions. They should call meetings only after implementing the decisions, he added.
Agriculture Minister Arshad Lodhi, Livestock Minister Haroon Sultan, Forests Minister Ashfaqur Rehman, Chief Secretary Salman Siddique, agriculture experts and officers concerned attended the meeting.
The chief minister said the government was utilizing all available resources for strengthening the agriculture research sector. Besides overhauling the existing research centres, it would send agricultural experts abroad for training to encourage modern farming in the country.
He said maximum benefit should be derived from the latest research for increasing production.
He said farmers should be provided guidance and latest information regarding research for increasing yield. A huge amount had been allocated in the current budget for the development of agriculture sector as well as research.
The chief minister said local experts would be provided maximum facilities and incentives so that they could serve their country with full dedication.
He said services of agricultural scientists from abroad were also being acquired.
MOU SIGNED: The Punjab AgriMarketing Company (Pamco) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an investment firm
to bring private investment in projects sponsored by it in the agri-business sector in Punjab.
The MoU was signed by Pamco CEO Mansoor Arifeen and Jehangir Siddiqui Capital Markets Ltd CEO G. M. Malkani. The investment firm has undertaken under the MoU to explore investment opportunities with Pamco for the development of sectors like fruit, vegetables, dairy and livestock, etc.
Pamco is a private sector led company formed by the Punjab government under the public-private partnership concept. Its main objective is to attract and promote private sector investment through projects and initiatives focusing on removing the supply side constraints in the sales and marketing of agriculture commodities facing post-harvest losses, quality issues and marketing problems.