It is encouraging to see the government finally placing agriculture at the centre of its policy focus, with the Prime Minister vowing to revive the sector through innovation, technology transfer, and investment in research. The commitment to build climate-resilient infrastructure and boost productivity is a much-needed acknowledgement of the crisis looming over Pakistan’s most vital sector.

But let us be clear—this is not a moment for leisurely planning. Pakistan, still overwhelmingly an agricultural economy, finds itself woefully unprepared in the face of accelerating climate change. It is not just a matter of efficiency or exports anymore; it is about survival. From deadly heatwaves to unpredictable monsoons, the country is already experiencing the first jolts of climate disruption. The Punjab region is predicted to face drought this year, and similar forecasts are being echoed elsewhere. One cannot stress enough that food insecurity is no longer an abstract threat. Inflation has already made basic staples unaffordable for many, and the climate crisis is poised to push millions more into hunger. The agriculture sector stands on the frontline of this twin assault, and without decisive, practical action, its collapse will have cascading consequences for every facet of national stability.

We hope the government realises that innovation is not a buzzword to win headlines—it is a demand for swift and strategic execution. There is no luxury of multi-decade planning when farmers face crop failures today. Pilot projects and policy papers must give way to real-world interventions and institutional support systems that actually reach the field.

If Pakistan is to avoid a food crisis of catastrophic proportions, the state must move past tokenism and bring urgency to every decision, every policy, every rupee spent. Agriculture may be our past, but how we treat it now will decide if it is also part of our future.