ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the government’s priority is to help farmers access affordable fertilisers, quality seeds, modern equipment and technical guidance, particularly to improve water efficiency.
He made the remarks while chairing the inaugural meeting of the National Agriculture and Food Security Council in Islamabad. Calling agriculture a backbone of Pakistan’s economy, the prime minister said the sector could help accelerate economic growth.
Shehbaz stressed the need to ensure fair returns for crops, especially for small and medium-sized farmers. He said the federal government would work with the provinces to support agricultural development.
The prime minister also pointed to the livestock sector’s export potential and said steps were being taken to increase halal meat exports. He praised farmer-focused initiatives in Punjab, including aquaculture, shrimp farming and subsidies through the Kisan Card, and commended Sindh’s efforts to improve facilities for farmers.
On wheat, Shehbaz said national stocks were sufficient to meet requirements and warned that those involved in hoarding would face action. He called for the support price to be set before sowing begins, balancing farmers’ incomes with affordable prices for consumers.
The wheat price, he said, would be decided in consultation with the provinces and announced once discussions were complete.
Provincial representatives outlined their governments’ agricultural initiatives, while the meeting also received updates on development efforts in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
