Islamabad: Pakistan is seeking to broaden its cooperative efforts with Canada in areas such as food security, agricultural modernization, and economic growth, as stated by Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, during a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Tarik Ali Khan.

According to Radio Pakistan, the discussions centered on enhancing bilateral cooperation in agriculture, livestock development, agri-business investment, and trade. Rana Tanveer Hussain expressed appreciation for Canada’s longstanding partnership with Pakistan in various agricultural sectors, emphasizing the importance of Canada as a key agricultural partner.

The minister outlined Pakistan’s significant expenditure on edible oil imports, highlighting ongoing efforts to increase domestic oilseed production. He also pointed out the country’s potential as an exporter of high-quality agricultural products, including mangoes, rice, kinnow, dates, and halal meat products. In pursuit of these goals, Hussain proposed joint initiatives in hybrid seed research, livestock breed improvement, and various technological advancements in agriculture.

Rana Tanveer Hussain also sought Canadian technical support in several areas, including capacity building, animal health information systems, import risk assessment, and disease control programs. In response, Canadian High Commissioner Tarik Ali Khan reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Pakistan in agriculture and agri-business.