ISLAMABAD: The federal government is going to launch an agricultural package worth Rs 30 billion, said the officials of Ministry of National Food Security and Research.
The officials of the ministry told Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research that the package has been sent to the Prime Minister for approval to promote agriculture sector in the country.
The senate body, which met here under the chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar, was attended by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Bosan and other members of the committee.
The officials said that the package includes steps to promote agricultural, fertilising and livestock protection etc, adding the federal government would support the provincial governments and had already taken commitments from them in this regard.
Federal Minister Sikandar Hayat admitted that the agriculture sector of the country was in poor condition. He underlined the importance to reduce cost of wheat production to provide relief the poor people and farmers as well.
He said the government was going to take good decision regarding agricultural policy in coming few days. He admitted the research institutions related to agriculture in Pakistan could not be able to get good achievements due to lack of funds.
Bosan said that the budget of his ministry had been reduced from Rs 32 billion to just 1.5 billion after the 18th Amendment in Constitution. The cotton production had also been significantly affected, he added.
The minister said solar pumps in Balochistan should be installed in the areas that were close to rivers and other water reservoirs. There was a need to construct small dams to overcome shortage of water, he added.
