Islamabad, President Asif Ali Zardari emphasized the importance of establishing strategic food reserves and supporting the agricultural sector to ensure food security and protect the interests of farmers in Pakistan.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, during a meeting focused on wheat procurement issues, President Zardari proposed extending soft loans to the private sector for building silos and modern wheat storage facilities. This initiative is aimed at bolstering the country’s capabilities to meet the food needs of its growing population.

The President directed relevant authorities to tackle the challenges faced by farmers, including ensuring reasonable wheat prices, making timely policy interventions, and streamlining the procurement process. He was briefed about the current difficulties in wheat procurement and the distribution of Bar Dana, a key supply used in agricultural packaging.

Highlighting the pivotal role of agriculture in Pakistan, where approximately 65 percent of the population resides in rural areas, President Zardari noted that providing fair wheat prices is crucial for boosting the rural economy. He also stressed the need for adopting modern agricultural techniques and ensuring the availability of credible crop data to facilitate timely and effective policy decisions aimed at addressing food security challenges.