Govt taking measures to boost agriculture-led exports: Commerce Minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce and Textile Muhammad Perviaz Malik on Tuesday said that Pakistan have huge potential in Agriculture trade and local farmers would be fully facilitated for increasing yield of crops.

"We are committed to provide modern technology and introduce the best international practices for enhancing the Agri-trade with regional countries and connect them with international markets, Muhammad Perviaz Malik told APP after the dates' festival organized by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) here.

He said priority of the government was to bring competitiveness in agro trade and it was also focussing on exploring the new markets in region and across the globe.

Pervaiz Malik said the government was prioritizing to facilitate the trade of different fruits, vegetables, dates and other agro items and value addition in the sector.

The minister said Pakistan was the fourth largest grower of date in the world and value addition was must for enhancing export of the product.

Replying to a question, he said that value addition and Infrastructure development in dates growing areas would increase the employment opportunities and support for poverty alleviation in Sindh, South Punjab, Khyber Paktunkwa, and Balochistan.

"We can attract the foreign investment through value addition in agriculture, which also increases the country's foreign reserves," Malik said.

He said the government had planned to form evolving comprehensive strategy for providing the research facility and introduce the modern technology for enhancing the yield of dates and agro exports.

Replying to another question, he said that media and academia would give awareness to the farmers for increasing the production and export of the country.

He said the government is fully committed to promote and growth of Agriculture sector in the country.