Economic growth linked with growth of agriculture sector: Zardari

HYDERABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party's co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari Sunday said Pakistan's economic growth was linked to the growth of agriculture sector.

"Pakistan's future, your and mine future is in the growth of agriculture sector. Around 90 percent of our industry is agro based," he said while talking to media persons here. Earlier, he addressed a reception in Tando Allahyar.

Pointing out the export potential of agriculture sector, Zardai said China imported food and agricultural products of around $4 trillion every year and Pakistan could tap it.

He said being the next door neighbour, Pakistani ports could be used for international trade by China. Both Pakistan and China would both benefit from the Gwadar Port .

"We want more increased interdependence between Pakistan and China. It is time now to bolster this relation of interdependence," he asserted.

Zardari claimed that during the last decade, the PPP governments had built 5 bridges on the Indus river in Sindh. The provincial government was carrying out canal lining to reduce loss of irrigation water. Lining of many canals had been completed while that of the rest was underway.

"We will do lining of the whole Rohri canal so that the saved water can be used to irrigate more land," he added.

The PPP said the provincial government was also considering to finance drip irrigation projects through the Sindh Bank. It was also trying to channel the foreign investment and loans towards the agriculture sector, he added. Referring to the100-day performance of his party's federal government in 2008, Zardari claimed that the PPP government showed the door to then president Pervez Musharraf, launched the Benazir Income Support Programme, conducted Swat operation and handled the wheat crisis.

Provincial ministers, PPP legislators and party leaders were present on the occasion.