Punjab targets Rs1.995trn investment under agri transformation: official

LAHORE: Punjab is targeting Rs1.995 trillion in investment, USD6.8 billion in additional exports and the creation of more than 162,000 direct jobs under its flagship agricultural transformation initiative, as the provincial government seeks to promote value addition, modern technologies and export-oriented farming.

The targets were highlighted by Sardar Usama Fayyaz Leghari, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Punjab, at the concluding ceremony of a five-day international workshop on smart agriculture and value-added agricultural products, jointly organised by the National Productivity Organization (NPO), Pakistan, and the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), Japan.

Held in Lahore from November 2 to 6, 2026, the workshop brought together international delegates from APO member economies to explore ways of improving agricultural productivity, strengthening value chains and promoting sustainable growth. Addressing the ceremony, Leghari said climate change, water scarcity and post-harvest losses required a shift towards modern, resource-efficient and market-oriented agricultural practices.

He said the future of agriculture depended not merely on increasing production but also on adopting smart technologies and converting agricultural commodities into competitive, value-added products.

Under the Punjab Innovation for Value, Opportunity and Transformation (PIVOT) 2026–2029 initiative, the government also plans to establish agro-processing parks in Sargodha, Khanewal, Okara and Bhakkar. The initiative complements the federal government’s URAAN Pakistan programme and 5Es Framework aimed at promoting export-led economic growth.

The workshop included technical sessions and a learning visit to Nestlé Pakistan on November 4 where participants gained practical insights into dairy value addition, food processing and smart supply chain management.

In his closing remarks, Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhry, CEO of NPO Pakistan, thanked APO Japan for its continued cooperation and urged participants to translate the knowledge gained during the workshop into practical initiatives to improve agricultural productivity and generate wider economic benefits.

He acknowledged the contributions of Tanvir Faisal, Programme Officer, APO Japan; resource persons Prof Dr Edi Santosa (Indonesia), Tariq Mehmood (ZTBL) and Prof Dr Shinawar Waseem Ali (University of the Punjab), as well as the NPO team, in organising the workshop. The event concluded with the distribution of certificates among participants.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026