PM Shehbaz stresses coordination to boost agri exports

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told a meeting on Friday that closer coordination between federal and provincial governments is needed to raise per-acre farm output, bring innovation into agriculture, grow livestock and push agricultural exports, according to Dawn. He chaired the session, where he ordered coordinated steps to widen access for Pakistani farm goods in global markets and to identify fresh destinations. Commercial officers at overseas missions were asked to promote farm exports, and a media drive was ordered to inform farmers about a crop-monitoring app.

The meeting heard that agricultural exports reached $5.18 billion in the last financial year. Among the leading shipments were mangoes, maize, sesame and potatoes, alongside rice, fisheries, halal meat and tobacco. Participants proposed building value chains, and adding value to farm produce was described as essential for raising exports, with China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Gulf states named as key markets.

The meeting was told the National Agriculture and Food Security Council will be made operational, with chief ministers representing their provinces. A proposed Digital Farmers Diary-Agri Stack would digitise records of farmers and agricultural land, along with soil and water testing data. A Pakistan Good Agriculture Practices system, known as Pak-GAP, is also proposed to promote practices that deliver better results, and financing facilities would be offered to agriculture exporters.