Pakistan can earn billions by exporting agri products: CM

LAHORE - Chief Minister Punjab, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan can earn foreign exchange worth billions of rupees by exporting agri products to Middle East and other countries. He said that Punjab government has completed unique project of Cold Cargo Centre at Allama Iqbal Airport at a cost of Rs 15 crore and similar centres will be set up in Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and other cities of the province. He said that cold storage project will prove to be a milestone in the development of agriculture and livestock sectors in the province. He said that this project will enable export of agri produce in accordance with international standard.
He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of Cold Storage Project set up with the collaboration of Punjab Agricultural Marketing Company and a multinational company Agility (Pvt) Ltd. at Allama Iqbal International Airport, here Monday. Members National and Provincial Assemblies, Federal Secretary Board of Investment Tariq Puri, Secretary Agriculture Capt. (Retd) Arif Nadeem, Chief Executive PAMCO Mian Shaukat Ali, Chief Executive Agility Company Moin Malik and a large number of agri experts were present on this occasion.
The Chief Minister said Pakistan is an agrarian country and it is unfortunate that despite having brotherly relations with Middle Eastern countries and Gulf States it has not been able to export its agri products to these countries, the main reason for which is lack of proper attention to quality, processing, packing and transportation of agri produce. He said that such countries which are at a distance of thousands of miles from Gulf States have occupied these markets by adopting modern technology.
He said that time has come for evolving a comprehensive strategy with the consultation of stakeholders in agri sector for increasing agri exports in accordance with the needs of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait and other Gulf states for achieving Pakistans due right in agriculture sector. He said that there are many countries which have lesser resources than Pakistan but have achieved progress and prosperity by adopting latest technology. He said that Pakistan can also increase its exports by employing latest agriculture technology and strengthen its economy. He said that Punjab government will take all possible measures for increasing agri exports and prepare such a roadmap which could result in prosperity of the province as well as the whole country. He said that agriculture is the mainstay of national economy and agriculture sector will be ensured its due right through promotion of modern agri technology.
He said that Punjab government has set up a unique and modern cold cargo centre with the collaboration of private sector which will leave a far-reaching impact on the export of agri products as well as development of agriculture sector. He said that this project has been outsourced in a completely transparent manner and cold cargo centre after its completion, has been handed over to the multinational company Agility which will give its annual income to Punjab government. He said that Agriculture Department and Board of Investment have been given the targets of agri exports of two billion rupees each annually which will be achieved at any cost.
He said that agri experts, Punjab and Federal Investment Boards, Agility Company and Agriculture Department should collectively evolve a strategy for increasing export of agri products and give it to Punjab government. He also congratulated Chief Executive of PAMCO, Secretary Agriculture and officers concerned for the setting up of the first modern cold storage of the country.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated cold cargo centre. He inspected different sections of the cold cargo centre and appreciated its high standard. Chief Executive Punjab Agriculture Marketing Company Mian Shaukat Ali in his address said that CM Punjab has taken personal interest in this unique project of the country and ensured availability of funds due to which this project has been completed.
He said that the centre has storage capacity of 500 metric tons and being multi chamber, different products can be stored upto minus 18 degree centigrade.
He said that this project is practical implementation of the vision of Chief Minister Punjab who is striving for harmonizing agriculture and other sectors with the demands of modern age. Chief Executive Agility Company, Moin Malik in his address highlighted the activities of the company and informed that the project of cold storage will prove to be a milestone in the uplift of agriculture sector as well as farming community. He said that his company will continue to extend its fullest cooperation for the development of agri sector.