While visiting the other day a field trial site where a multinational agricultural biotechnology company showcased its genetically modified (GM) corn, farmers from different corn growing areas of Punjab urged the government to approve commercial use of the GM crop in a speedy manner. The approving authority, National Bio-safety Committee, of course has to carefully examine and assess the seed before giving its go-ahead.

Even when the Pak-China relationship is people-to-people and state-to-state and thus unaffected by the episodic changes dictated by time and space, Premier Li Keqiang's visit here this week is much more than the norm. What sets it apart from the previous bilateral visits are not only the dramatically transformed regional security situation and the new economic realities, but also the fact that there are the new leaderships elected by their peoples - both in Pakistan and China. And if their past is any indication, both the leaderships are economy-focused, determined to carry forward their programmes that place their people's well-being and prosperity above politics. With reasonably secure terms under their belts - while Nawaz Sharif is elected for five years, Premier Li's tenure is full one decade - the two counties can hopefully pursue long-term co-operative policies and programmes. No wonder then Premier Li's meeting with Nawaz Sharif is said to have covered wide-ranging subjects, in that the two explored possibilities of co-operation in myriad fields including civil nuclear technology, mass transit projects, enhanced business interaction and early operationalisation of Gwadar seaport.

It is good to see that bank credit to the agricultural sector continues to rise despite its slowdown in other sectors. According to the latest data released by the State Bank on 21st May, 2013, agricultural credit disbursements by banks surged by over 15 percent in the first ten months of this fiscal year compared to the same period last year, indicating a high credit demand. In absolute terms, the increase amounted to Rs 35.23 billion to over Rs 259 billion when compared with the total disbursement of Rs 223.85 billion in July-April, 2012.