ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The National Assembly was told that there is no food insecurity threat in near future in Pakistan.
Replying to a question in the House on Monday, the Minister for National Food Security and Research Tariq Bashir Cheema apprised that Pakistan has produced bumper crops of Sugarcane, Rice, Maize, Potato, Onion, and Moong.
The minister told the House that in 2021-22 Pakistan produced 88.7 million tons of Sugarcane, 9.3 million tons of Rice, 9.7 million tons of Maize, 7.73 million tons of Potato, 2.17 million tons of Onion, and 263.73 thousand tons of Moong.
However, Pakistan is a rapid growing Country with respect to population, the minister said adding that by 2030 its population is projected to be nearly 260 million and 380 million by the year 2050.
Cheema said that this growing population threats the natural resources of the Country, especially land and water resources. He also said that this rapid increase in population and limited resources may cause food security threat in the future.
Furthermore, he apprised the House that the federal government is vigilant in tackling the food security issue through these steps; (a) Productivity enhancement of major crops (b) Physical and Economic Access to Food (c) Promotion of Nutritious and Healthy Diet, and (d) Sustainability and stability.
