LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has constituted a high-level committee to promote cooperation with Gilgit-Baltistan in agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors in response to a request from Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain.
The committee, headed by Punjab Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, is currently visiting Gilgit-Baltistan to explore avenues for collaboration and introduce innovative agricultural development models in the region.
The delegation includes Secretary Agriculture Punjab Shakeel Ahmad Mian, Secretary Livestock and Dairy Development Ahmad Aziz Tarrar, Secretary Aquaculture and Fisheries Rana Saleem Afzal, and other senior officials.
The Punjab delegation held a detailed meeting with Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain to discuss measures for improving and modernising the agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors.
Speaking on the occasion, Amjad Hussain thanked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for responding to his request by sending a delegation comprising the relevant provincial minister and technical experts.
He said the development of agriculture, livestock and fisheries would benefit local farmers and strengthen the regional economy. He also acknowledged the progress made in these sectors during the tenure of the present Punjab government.
Kirmani said Punjab would extend full support and technical guidance to Gilgit-Baltistan for adopting successful agricultural development models.
He announced that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan for cooperation in agriculture, livestock and fisheries would soon be signed in the presence of both chief ministers.
He said technical working groups were being constituted to strengthen cooperation in these sectors. Punjab would also assist Gilgit-Baltistan in developing a certification system to facilitate access for its livestock products to international markets, besides providing training to enhance the technical capacity of its human resources.
Kirmani also gave a detailed briefing on various Punjab government initiatives, including the Chief Minister’s Kissan Card, Livestock Card, Green Tractor Programme, high-tech farm mechanisation, Model Agri Malls, Agricultural Graduates Internship Programme, shrimp farming and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)-free zones.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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