ISLAMABAD - Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali Thursday said that agriculture sector should be prioritised to boost the economy of Pakistan. He said this while co-chairing the third Steering Committee meeting of National Trade Corridor Strategy Study (NTCSS) with Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs. The Steering Committee is constituted to oversee the implementation of the NTCSS, a priority initiative of the incumbent government targeted towards improvement in procedures, services, and infrastructure to enhance the trade and reduce the cost of doing business. The NTCSS would assist the government define, plan, prepare and implement programme for infrastructure development consistent with governments Medium Term Strategic Framework. The Steering Committee is supposed to select quick result-oriented projects. Keeping in view the financial constraints, security situation, and comparative advantage, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission suggested non-conventional ways of enhancing the welfare of people by focusing on certain strategic areas where major gains in GDP growth and higher employment levels might be achieved in a short time. Pakistan is, agriculture based economy. Since agriculture represents 20 per cent of countrys GDP and is responsible for as much as 43 per cent of the employment in the country. Deputy Chairman further emphasized the need of improving the infrastructure to facilitate the farmers. There is a mammoth potential in agriculture sector especially in horticulture. He stressed on mango, citrus and vegetable farming, along with the use of new technologies and balanced use of fertilizers and pesticides to increase the quality yield. The use of high tech green houses and radiation centres, will help to increase the value addition, which ultimately will lead to capture of new markets. This will also help in reducing the spoilage of the crop. Floriculture is an important field of horticulture sector and has enormous potential in producing the high quality products like tulips, having international demand also. High quality local expertise available in Pakistan that can be utilized to expand the domestic market will help in employment generation, said the Deputy Chairman. Hina Rabbani Khar stressed the need of value addition in textile which should include apparel. Secretary Agriculture opined to include major crops like wheat and rice, especially value addition in rice through proper polishing, grading and packaging. Secretary Investment asked for the workable plan for agribusiness that can be marketed to attract FDIs. The Steering Committee developed a consensus that the growing pharma has gigantic potential so further research is required to tap the hidden potential of this emerging sector. Secretary Food and Agriculture, Secretary Labour, Additional Secretary Commerce and senior officials of all relevant ministries, divisions, and private sector attended the meeting.