Agriculture is govt’s first priority, says PM Imran

Vows to provide provincial govts all possible support to develop sector

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said promotion of agriculture is the first priority of his government which will provide all possible support to provincial governments in order to realise the country’s potential in the sector.

Imran Khan said this on Friday while chairing a high-level meeting on agriculture and food processing. Federal minister of food security, provincial ministers of agriculture, federal and provincial secretaries and the heads of agriculture-related departments attended the meeting.

The PM also sought recommendations from the provinces to fully utilise technology and other assistances from friendly countries including China in order to strengthen the agriculture department and to promote agriculture in the country.

The provinces were also instructed to submit their recommendations within a week.

The PM said provincial governments should identify the obstacles and difficulties faced in promoting agriculture especially increasing exports. “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has immensely potential for tourism. Promoting tourism will not only benefit the province but the country’s economy as well,” he said.



The PTI lawmakers from Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan also met the PM.  Minister for Kashmir Affairs Ali Amin Gandapur, MNA Shahid Ahmed, Noorain Farooq Ibrahim, Shandana Gulzar, Yaqoob Sheikh, Naeemul Haq, Nadeem Afzal Chan and the PTI Secretary General Arshad Dad also attended the meeting.

The MNAs informed the prime minister about the issues related to their respective constituencies.  Khan said it is part of the PTI manifesto to bring a real and visible change in lives of people.

Measures taken by the previous government for betterment of the K-P people would be carried forward for further improvement so that the process of change in education, health and other departments can be continued and the living standards of people can be changed, the PM said.

He called for resolving problems of member on a priority basis and ordered to make a plan to solve the issue of drinking water in Dera Ismail Khan.