Federal Minister for Food Security Dr. Kausar Abdullah Malik and Provincial Minister for Agriculture Punjab SM Tanveer visited University of Agriculture on Thursday and participated in China Pakistan Agriculture Forum at Center for Advanced Studies Auditorium.
Vice Chancellor Iqar Ahmad Khan, Chinese Party Secretary Dr. Cheng, Research Centers, Arid Agriculture University, agricultural experts, professors, officers and students from across the country participated in the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Federal Minister for Food Security Dr. Kausar Abdullah Malik said that Pakistan-China friendship and cooperation in various fields is ideal, while the student exchange agreement of the University of Agriculture with China is also very welcome, through which we can share each other’s experiences, skills, modern technology, research in line with global requirements and agriculture, among others.
It will help to understand the growth factors of the sector and to utilize them. He added that the wheat increase campaign is expected to increase the next production of wheat. The Federal Minister said that we are working on increasing the production of all crops so that we can not only meet the needs of the country’s food grains by increasing our production as an agricultural country, but also import cooking oil, pulses and other commodities worth billions of rupees every year.
He said that we have no shortage of experts but they have not been utilized although Allah has blessed us with all kinds of seasons and we have the best canal system in the world and talented farmers. but in the past it was not utilized as it was needed and the result was that we had to import cooking oil and other food commodities in dollars and due to day to day fluctuations in the value of the dollar, the people Inflation has to be faced.
Dr. Kausar Abdullah Malik said that the government has requested its agricultural scientists and agronomists to work day and night to develop new varieties of food grains that are cost-effective and resistant to various diseases including pests and diseases. It has the ability to produce more per acre with less water usage.
Provincial Agriculture Minister SM Tanveer said in his address that he had visited China in September under the leadership of Chief Minister, Punjab Mohsin Naqvi, where he had signed various cooperation agreements with China in various sectors including agriculture, which had positive results very soon.
He said that this year in Punjab, 160 million acres of land is being cultivated under wheat while the provincial government has distributed certified wheat seed bags to the farmers free of cost and the support price of wheat has been provided by the Punjab government.
