US explores investment opportunities in agriculture, livestock sectors

LAHORE: A US business delegation met Punjab Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani at the Civil Secretariat here on Wednesday to explore investment opportunities, bilateral business partnerships and cooperation in projects of mutual interest in the province’s agriculture and livestock sectors.

Kirmani said Punjab, the country’s food basket, accounts for approximately 80 percent of Pakistan’s agricultural and food production. He said the provincial government was providing financial assistance to farmers, introducing modern agricultural technologies, improving per-acre crop yields and modernizing the agriculture sector.

He said farmers had received agricultural loans worth approximately Rs400 billion under the Kissan Card initiative over the past two years, with a substantial portion spent on purchasing fertilizers.

The minister said the government was also promoting agricultural mechanization, efficient irrigation systems and private-sector investment. Under the PIVOT project, efforts were being made to provide farmers with modern agricultural machinery and create new investment opportunities in the sector.

Highlighting initiatives in the livestock sector, Kirmani said systems for animal identification, monitoring, vaccination and disease prevention were being strengthened across Punjab to improve livestock management and productivity.

The US delegation appreciated the investment potential of Pakistan’s agriculture sector, saying visits to agricultural research institutions, citrus orchards and other agricultural sites had provided valuable insights into ongoing developments and business opportunities.

The delegates expressed particular interest in introducing and expanding US soybean cultivation in Pakistan, which could open avenues for cooperation in crop production and related agricultural activities.

The meeting also discussed the cultivation of new fruit varieties, including avocados and dragon fruit, in Punjab. Both sides explored opportunities to increase farmers’ incomes and attract private investment through agricultural produce processing and value addition.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026