Pakistan Agricultural Scientists' Forum (PAS-Forum) arranged a seminar to discuss the impact of granting Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India on Pakistan's agriculture here on Saturday.
Seminar entitled 'impact on Pakistani agriculture and livestock sectors after declaring India as Most Favoured Nation (MFN)' held at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) was addressed by people attached to agriculture and livestock sectors including Agri-Forum Pakistan Chairman Muhammad Ibrahim Mughal, Pakistan Agriculture Scientists Association (PASA) Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Mushtaq Warraich, Saleem Safdar Sial, UVAS vice-chancellor Dr Muhammad Nawaz and President PAS Forum Hafiz Wasi Khan.
Speakers were of the view that there was no need of being afraid of granting MFN status to India, as 1,936 goods are already being imported from India. They said that by creating trade barriers for India we did not support industry rather strengthen the profiteers, who had been looting the small farmers for a long time.
Agri-Forum Pakistan Chairman Muhammad Ibrahim Mughal reiterated his demand if government is eager to enhance its imports from India then it should import cheaper fertilisers, diesel and electricity from there. "Diesel is Rs 94 per liter in Pakistan while in India it is available for Rs 77 per liter. Electricity is being provided to Indian growers at Re.01 per unit and in Pakistan it is not less than Rs 8.38 per unit," they said.