PM Shehbaz Stresses Agricultural Revolution for Pakistan’s Economic Growth

PM Announces Scholarships for 1,000 Agricultural Graduates, Focus on Livestock Sector

By DTD- On Mar 24, 2025

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the critical role of agriculture in Pakistan’s economy and the potential for an agricultural revolution if farmers are provided with high-quality seeds, fertilizers, and affordable pesticides. Speaking at the inauguration of an advanced aeroponics farming initiative at the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), he acknowledged the institution’s significant contributions to agricultural development.

Highlighting that nearly 65% of Pakistan’s population resides in rural areas and contributes significantly to national food production, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Republic of Korea for its support in establishing a research facility for potato seed production. He also underscored Pakistan’s intent to strengthen partnerships with Korea across various sectors.

PM Shehbaz stressed that with proper collaboration between federal and provincial governments, Pakistan could witness another agricultural boom. He expressed confidence that with the right resources and efforts, Pakistani farmers, known for their skill and dedication, could significantly boost agricultural productivity.

Reflecting on the decline in Pakistan’s cotton production, the Prime Minister lamented the country’s fall from producing 16 million cotton bales to now spending billions on cotton imports. He attributed the decline to a lack of timely decisions and investment, stressing that strategic risk-taking and proactive policies could have averted this issue. Similarly, he noted the underperformance of the sugarcane sector despite the hard work of farmers.

In his vision for the future, PM Shehbaz called for agricultural reforms to enable Pakistan to not only meet domestic demand but also generate a surplus for export. He dubbed Sargodha “Pakistan’s California” due to its agricultural potential and urged stakeholders to focus on innovation.

Additionally, the Prime Minister announced that 1,000 agricultural graduates would be sent to China on merit-based scholarships to enhance their skills and contribute to local farming development upon their return. He also highlighted the untapped potential in Pakistan’s livestock sector and assured that discussions to reshape the agricultural landscape would begin after Eid.

With these reforms, PM Shehbaz reiterated his belief that Pakistan’s agricultural sector could drive the nation’s economic prosperity.