Islamabad: In a series of strategic meetings, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan convened with the Council for Agriculture and Food Processing, and the Council for Meat, Poultry, Fish, and Seafood Products to deliberate on augmenting Pakistan’s exports in these crucial sectors. The discussions focused on identifying and overcoming barriers to enhance the international trade performance of Pakistan’s agricultural and livestock products.
According to Press Information Department, during his engagement with the Council for Agriculture and Food Processing, Minister Khan highlighted the significant export potential of key agricultural commodities including onions, bananas, dates, citrus fruits, and mangoes. He pointed out the recent success in onion exports which reached $225 million, suggesting that similar gains could be achieved across other products with proper strategy and support. The council members, however, raised concerns regarding the adverse effects of taxation on competitiveness, suggesting that value addition and processing could yield higher returns than raw exports.
Minister Khan concurred with the council’s views on prioritizing sectors where Pakistan has a competitive advantage, such as the year-round availability of onions, mangoes, dates, and bananas. He urged the council to draft a detailed proposal for the National Export Development Board (NEDB), aimed at boosting these sectors through targeted initiatives funded by the Export Development Fund (EDF). Additionally, he recommended that the Ministry of Climate Change develop adaptive strategies for agriculture to counteract the impacts of climate change and ensure sustainable practices.
In a subsequent meeting with the Council for Meat, Poultry, Fish, and Seafood Products, which also saw participation from the Minister for Maritime Affairs, Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh, the discussions turned to the potential in livestock exports. Issues such as the absence of a robust production mechanism and the need for disease-free zones to meet international standards were highlighted by council member Bilal Tata. He advocated for a balanced approach to both exports and imports to stabilize domestic markets and prevent livestock smuggling.
Minister Khan assured that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is attentive to the concerns regarding tariffs and is committed to fostering an enabling environment for these sectors. He suggested adopting modern techniques like cage fish farming to increase productivity in the fisheries sector and promised enhancements in harbor facilities through collaboration with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and support from the EDF.
The meetings concluded with Minister Khan inviting both councils to submit comprehensive proposals to the NEDB, reaffirming the government’s dedication to nurturing growth and increasing the global footprint of Pakistan’s agricultural and livestock products.