NA panel on agriculture discusses farm sector issues
Special working group on agriculture has been established in cooperation with China and a plan of action is being discussed to implement a host of joint projects. PHOTO: FILE
The National Assembly Special Committee on Agricultural Products met here on Friday with Speaker Asad Qaiser in the chair.
The meeting was attended by Food Security Minister Fakhar Imam, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Malik Amir Dogar, Malik Ehsanullah Towana, Qasim Noon and representatives of the cabinet subcommittee.
During the meeting, convener of the subcommittee of the special committee, Shindana Gulzar, presented the two-year performance report of the committee and its recommendations.
Speaking on the occasion, Ghulam Sarwar Khan said for the first time in the history of parliament, an important development had come to light regarding the development of agriculture. The steps taken by the speaker for the development of agriculture were commendable, he added.
Qaiser said that for the first time in 70 years, a road map had been prepared to solve problems of the growers and farmers. The previous governments did not give importance to agriculture due to which the sector was in dilapidated conditions.
National Assembly member Zain Qureshi said that steps were needed to improve the quality of seeds. The speaker said that the steps taken to increase the production of cotton were commendable.
The committee members stressed the need for measures to increase the support price of cotton.
Minister for Food Security Fakhar Imam said that the speaker had taken an important step at the parliamentary level for the development of agriculture. With the development of the agriculture, he added, progress of the farmers was also necessary.
The speaker said that due to lack of water resources, the country faced energy problems. Imam said that due to lack of water reserves, electricity was being generated through furnace oil.
He said that farmers had not been given due importance in the past, due to which the agricultural sector was affected. He said that measures needed to be taken on a priority basis to control food prices.
The speaker said that the committee on agricultural products had shown excellent performance. The complete report prepared by the committee should be presented to the prime minister and in the National Assembly. The house would discuss the report, he added.