Meeting pushes for value addition in fruits, fisheries

A high-level meeting was chaired by Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, with a delegation of Kisan Ittehad to discuss key challenges and opportunities in Pakistan's agricultural sector.

The meeting was attended by Ministry of Industries and Production Secretary Capt (Retd) Saif Anjum and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) CEO Nadia Jahangir Seth.

Detailed discussions were held on agriculture, fruits and vegetables, their preservation, and export potential. The president of Kisan Ittehad highlighted that due to the lack of modern preservation and packaging facilities in Pakistan, a significant quantity of fruits and vegetables goes to waste. He emphasised that the absence of food processing, packaging, value addition, and cold storage facilities remains a major bottleneck in the food sector.

Addressing the participants, Haroon Akhtar stated that value addition and modern packaging play a pivotal role in enhancing exports of fruits and vegetables. He underscored that Smeda will play an important role in equipping farmers and exporters with modern techniques and skills.

He further noted that the adoption of modern technology and advanced food processing techniques in the agricultural sector can significantly increase the value of products. Due to the lack of such facilities, substantial quantities of food and produce are wasted, causing financial losses to farmers.

Haroon Akhtar reiterated that the vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding value addition can result in a significant boost to exports. He stressed that improving cold chain infrastructure and increasing production capacity in the fisheries sector are the needs of the hour.

He highlighted that investment in aquaculture technology and cold chain systems is essential for the development of the fisheries sector. Furthermore, he directed Smeda to collaborate with the Kisan Ittehad and relevant stakeholders to formulate a comprehensive policy and action plan.

Concluding the meeting, the PM aide emphasised that by ensuring strict quality control and establishing a strong export brand, Pakistan can achieve a prominent position in global agricultural and fisheries markets.