Quetta
President Dr. Arif Alvi has said that Balochistan is a land of natural resources and hardworking people and to enhance agricultural production there, the water shortage and other issues needed to be addressed.
He was of the view that the ongoing projects for the promotion of agriculture sector in Balochistan including the green tractor scheme were the guarantee of agricultural development in the province.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of “Balochistan Green Tractor Programme” in Quetta on Tuesday, President Alvi appreciated the projects initiated by the provincial government for the development of agriculture sector.
Governor Balochistan Syed Zahoor Agha, Chief Minister Jam Kamal, Provincial Agriculture Minister Engr. Zamrak Khan Achakzai were also present on the occasion.
The President said that Balochistan, being a major contributor in the country’s total livestock production, was a full of natural resources.
He said that agriculture and livestock production sectors were the professions of prophets and belonged to human history, adding, that with the passage of time and increase in population, these sectors achieved progress and were progressing due to modern technology.
He quoted the example of Vietnam, which he said having a coastline smaller than Balochistan took its fisheries exports from the initial worth US $ 300 million to US $ 10 billion per annum due to better strategy and concentration.
President Alvi said that with China alone spending US $ 70 billion per annum on the import of Halal meat, huge foreign exchange could be earned through the development of livestock sector.
Pakistan could achieve manifold increase in its Halal meat exports by checking the animal disease of foot and mouth, he added.
The President said that elected representatives of Balochistan will have to play their active role in sustainable development of the province through right decisions.—INP
