Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the government will announce a new wheat price soon after completing consultations with the provinces, stressing that a fair price must be determined before the sowing season begins to ensure adequate returns for farmers and affordable wheat for consumers.
Addressing the first meeting of the National Council for Agriculture and Food Security in Islamabad, the prime minister described agriculture as the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, saying development in the sector could help accelerate economic growth in a short period.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Musadik Malik, Jam Kamal, Ahsan Iqbal, Attaullah Tarar and other senior officials. The chief minister of Punjab and Sindh Agriculture Minister Makhdoom Mehboob-uz-Zaman also attended the meeting.
Shehbaz Sharif said the federal government would extend all possible support to the provinces to promote agricultural development. He identified the provision of affordable fertilisers, quality seeds, agricultural machinery, water-efficient equipment and modern technology as key government priorities.
The prime minister emphasised the need to ensure fair prices for crops, particularly for small and medium-sized farmers. He said the government wanted farmers to receive appropriate compensation for their hard work while ensuring that consumers had access to affordable wheat.
He maintained that sufficient wheat was available to meet the country’s domestic needs but warned that the government would show no leniency towards hoarders.
The prime minister also highlighted the livestock sector’s potential to boost national exports, saying efforts were underway to increase exports of Pakistani halal meat.
Shehbaz Sharif praised the Sindh chief minister’s efforts to support farmers and improve facilities for them, underscoring the importance of cooperation between the federal and provincial governments in strengthening agriculture.
Reiterating the government’s position on wheat pricing, the prime minister said the new rate would be finalised after consultations with the provinces and announced once the process was complete.
Read also: PM directs doubling of loans for small businesses
