Islamabad: Pakistan is seeking to enhance its agricultural and livestock sectors through a collaborative effort with Germany, as discussed in a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, and attended by the German Ambassador to Pakistan, Ms. Ina Lepel. The meeting focused on potential areas for bilateral cooperation, including technology transfer, food security, and research.

According to Press Information Department, Minister Hussain acknowledged the historical partnership between the two nations and emphasized the need for joint initiatives to tackle global challenges such as food security and climate change. Agriculture, which contributes about 25 percent to Pakistan’s GDP, faces hurdles like low crop yields. The government aims to improve this through research, certified seeds, mechanization, and climate-resilient crops.

The Minister highlighted the significance of the livestock sector, which constitutes nearly 60 percent of the country’s agricultural output. He proposed collaboration in livestock genetics, breed improvement, and vaccine production, and invited German companies to engage in dairy modernization, mechanization, and food processing in Pakistan.

Minister Hussain also introduced Pakistan’s upcoming Biotechnology Policy, which aims to foster research and attract foreign investment in agriculture. He underscored the importance of traceability systems and food safety standards to access international markets.

German Ambassador Ms. Lepel supported Pakistan’s modernization efforts and reiterated Germany’s commitment to expanding cooperation in agriculture and livestock development. She expressed interest in Pakistan’s Biotechnology Policy and acknowledged that German companies are exploring investment opportunities in the region.

Chairman PARC and Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Dr. Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi, noted the longstanding agricultural cooperation between the two countries and emphasized the potential benefits of German expertise for Pakistan’s livestock sector.

Both parties agreed to pursue collaboration in research, mechanization, climate-smart agriculture, and food safety, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties for sustainable agricultural growth and improved food security.