SAPM Haroon Akhtar Meets Punjab Minister for Agriculture & Livestock to Boost Agri Exports and Policy Coordination
Islamabad (GNP) :- Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, held a meeting with Provincial Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Punjab, Syed Ashiq Hussain Shah, to discuss the development of the agriculture and livestock sectors and enhance coordination between the federation and the provinces.
The meeting was attended by Federal Secretary for Industries and Production Saif Anjum, Punjab’s Provincial Secretaries for Agriculture and Livestock, and the CEO of the Engineering Development Board.
During the meeting, both sides discussed ongoing initiatives in Punjab’s agriculture and livestock sectors, their outcomes, and future strategies to further strengthen these key areas of the economy.
Haroon Akhtar Khan stated that, in line with the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government is committed to empowering the agriculture and livestock sectors to enhance exports and support economic growth. He highlighted that a comprehensive meat policy has been prepared, which will help increase meat exports and contribute to strengthening the national economy.
He further shared that the Ministry of Industries and Production will introduce a National Tractor Policy after thorough consultation with all stakeholders. The policy will focus on promoting agricultural mechanization, harvesting solutions, and local manufacturing of tractors. He emphasized that enhancing the use of machinery in agriculture is the need of the hour, and a dedicated policy will also be formulated to support the local production of harvesters.
The SAPM appreciated the initiatives taken by the Chief Minister of Punjab for the promotion of agriculture and livestock, noting that these efforts are yielding positive results. He reiterated that agriculture and livestock remain among the top priorities of the current government.
Syed Ashiq Hussain Shah informed that around 300,000 livestock in Punjab are currently available for export, which are traceable and vaccinated. He further shared that 30,000 tractors have already been distributed in the province, while an additional 20,000 will be provided soon.
Haroon Akhtar Khan assured that the federal government will extend full support to provinces in enhancing meat exports and strengthening linkages with international markets. He also announced that a meeting of commercial attachés and relevant stakeholders will be held next week in coordination with the Punjab government to further streamline export facilitation.
The SAPM emphasized that effective coordination and consultation between the federal and provincial governments are essential for the successful implementation of policies and achieving sustainable growth in the agriculture and livestock sectors.
