ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Commerce and Textile Minister Muhammad Pervaiz Malik on Tuesday said the federal government was fully committed to promote and growth of agriculture sector in Pakistan.
Talking to the state-run news agency after the dates’ festival organized by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in Islamabad, the minister said Pakistan had huge potential in agriculture trade and local farmers would be fully facilitated for increasing yield of crops.
“We are committed to provide modern technology and introduce the best international practices for enhancing the agri-trade with regional countries and connect them with international markets,” he said.
Pervaiz Malik said media and academia would give awareness to the farmers for increasing the production and export of the Country.
The minister further said priority of the government was to bring competitiveness in agro trade and it was also focusing on exploring the new markets in region and across the globe.
Malik said the government was prioritizing to facilitate the trade of different fruits, vegetables, dates and other agro items and value addition in the sector.
The commerce minister said Pakistan was the fourth largest grower of date in the world and value addition was must for enhancing export of the product.
Replying to a question, he said that value addition and Infrastructure development in dates growing areas would increase the employment opportunities and support for poverty alleviation in Sindh, South Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.
“We can attract the foreign investment through value addition in agriculture, which also increases the country’s foreign reserves,” Malik said.
The minister said the government had planned to form evolving comprehensive strategy for providing the research facility and introduce the modern technology for enhancing the yield of dates and agro exports.
