Federal Minister for Industries, Production, Food Security, and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain emphasised the importance of making the Department of Plant Protection more effective to increase export targets and stabilise the economy. His remarks came during a visit to the department on Wednesday, where he met with senior officers and stakeholders.
During the visit, the minister listened to the grievances of stakeholders and assured them that their genuine concerns would be addressed. The Director General of the Department of Plant Protection, Tariq Khan, along with other senior officers, provided the Minister with a detailed briefing on the department’s internal processes and operations.
Hussain stressed the need for quality production to boost exports relative to imports, highlighting that this could help stabilise Pakistan’s economy. He noted that inefficient agricultural management practices had previously harmed the economy and called for the adoption of modern methods to achieve desired goals.
The minister also highlighted restoring investor confidence to encourage investment in agriculture and other sectors. He urged stakeholders to develop strategies to tackle global food security concerns, which pose significant challenges.
Hussain pointed out the global demand for ‘Halal’ meat, including from non-Muslim countries, indicating a market for Pakistani products. He advocated for strategic planning and long-term market analysis to expand export bases and capitalise on these opportunities.
Stakeholders expressed their concerns, highlighting the need for ease of doing business. Director General Tariq Khan brought up the critical issue of lifting bans on exports to European countries, which has been a major concern for the industry. He discussed the digitisation of the Plant Protection Department and integration with the Pakistan Single Window, aiming to improve inter-agency coordination, real-time data exchange, and overall transparency and accountability.
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