PM stresses agri reforms to strengthen economy

June 25, 2025 (MLN): To further strengthen the national economy, sustainable reforms in Pakistan's agriculture sector were emphasized during a high-level review meeting held in Islamabad, chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

The meeting focused on agricultural development, infrastructure improvement, and increasing farmers’ access to financial resources.

The Prime Minister highlighted agriculture as the backbone of the country’s economy, stressing that sectoral reforms would significantly enhance per-acre yield and help reduce production costs.

He assured that no taxes would be imposed on fertilizers and pesticides in the upcoming financial year’s budget, aiming to boost agricultural productivity.

Additionally, he directed a gradual reduction in taxes on agricultural machinery and equipment to promote mechanization.

Accelerating the development of storage facilities for agricultural produce was another key directive from the Prime Minister.

He praised the allocation of funds for new agricultural projects and expressed confidence in the potential of students sent to China on agricultural scholarships, expressing hope that they would contribute as entrepreneurs upon their return.

Attendees were briefed on several proposals for sectoral reform, with particular attention to increasing agricultural output and improving infrastructure, according to the press release issued today.

 The National Agriculture Innovation and Growth Action Plan was discussed, focusing on enhancing farmer income and promoting value addition in agriculture to earn valuable foreign exchange.

The meeting also noted the launch of 100 agriculture startups under the National Technology Fund, Ignite, as part of the ongoing reform efforts.

Ministers, coordinators, private sector entrepreneurs, and senior government officials attended the session.

Notable attendees included Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Masood Malik, and the Prime Minister's Coordinators Musharraf Zaidi and Ahmed Umair.

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