Agri exports: PM orders crafting of ‘bold’ strategy

ISLAMABAD: In a decisive move to revive the country’s struggling agricultural exports, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday tasked authorities with crafting a bold five-year strategy, demanding sweeping reforms and a crash course for farmers to meet international market demands.

Chairing a meeting of the newly-established working group, comprising private sector experts, the prime minister underlined the need for aligning the country’s agricultural output with global requirements in order to boost exports.

The government, he added, was committed to advancing agricultural reforms both at the federal and provincial levels.

He stressed that increasing per-acre crop yields through better access to seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides was a central goal, alongside raising awareness among farmers about international quality standards.

READ MORE: PM advocates agri reforms, increased output

“Reforming the agriculture sector and educating farmers to meet global demands is essential for the country’s economic growth,” he maintained.

“Our focus will be on improving yields,” he added, “streamlining processing, and ensuring that our agricultural products meet export standards.”

Sharif also outlined government efforts to foster sustainable agricultural practices, citing the recent initiative to send 1,000 Pakistani students to China to receive training in modern agricultural technologies.

He acknowledged the country’s significant untapped potential in agriculture, particularly in sectors such as fisheries and horticulture. He said policy measures were already being developed to streamline production processes and make these sectors more export-friendly.

In a significant move, the prime minister directed the authorities to explore options for establishing domestic palm oil production along Pakistan’s coastal belt, with the goal of reducing dependency on imports and boosting the sector’s contribution to the economy.

The meeting, attended by several federal ministers, senior government officials, and the working group members, also provided an in-depth overview of the country’s agricultural performance.

The group presented a comparative analysis of the country’s major crops, both Rabi and Kharif, alongside data on livestock, dairy, and horticulture sectors. Rana Naseem, chairman of the working group, briefed the prime minister on the ongoing challenges faced by the agricultural sector, presenting a roadmap for future action.

A key component of the strategy is a short-term reform framework aimed at boosting yields without additional resource investment.

This would involve enhancing seed quality, increasing extension services, and offering farmers better access to modern farming techniques.

The federal government, the group noted, would also introduce a certification system for processed agricultural commodities, facilitating market access for value-added products and increasing farmers’ earnings.

The working group’s roadmap includes a plan for revamping agricultural research institutions, ensuring both greater crop productivity and the introduction of new, high-value crops suited to the country’s climate.

PM Sharif commended the group’s detailed briefing and emphasised the need for a practical, effective roadmap that could be incorporated into the government’s broader agricultural reforms. “A strong, actionable plan will be key to transforming the sector and driving long-term growth,” he concluded.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026