PM directs early finalisation of agriculture policy
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the early finalisation of a comprehensive National Agriculture Policy in consultation with the provinces and ordered the establishment of an Agriculture Apex Forum to oversee reforms aimed at revitalising the country’s farm sector.
Chairing a high-level review meeting on the restructuring of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and broader agricultural reforms, the prime minister said the agriculture sector possessed immense potential to drive sustainable economic growth and strengthen the country’s food security.
He directed that the proposed Agriculture Apex Forum meet every month to monitor the implementation of the government’s agriculture innovation and growth plan, ensuring that reform measures are carried out in a coordinated and timely manner.
He also called for the launch of a nationwide awareness campaign for Zarkhez-e, the federal agricultural financing scheme aimed at expanding collateral-free credit to small and subsistence farmers, saying easier access to credit was essential for raising productivity and encouraging investment in modern farming practices.
Sharif directed the authorities to transform the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) into a centre of excellence for agricultural research capable of developing innovative solutions to challenges facing the sector.
He stressed that improving the quality of seeds, promoting the use of modern agricultural technologies and ensuring the timely availability of irrigation water and fertilisers would significantly enhance crop yields per acre.
The prime minister also emphasised the need to focus on value addition in agricultural produce, alongside improved warehousing facilities and modern storage systems to reduce post-harvest losses and increase farmers’ incomes.
During the meeting, officials gave a detailed briefing to the prime minister on ongoing and proposed reforms across the agriculture sector.
They informed the prime minister that the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) had begun pilot production of multigrain flour as part of efforts to promote nutrition and diversify food products.
Officials also said an artificial intelligence-based application was under development to help farmers identify crop pests and diseases more effectively, enabling timely intervention and reducing production losses.
The meeting was told that the National Credit Guarantee Company Ltd (NCGCL), a public-private credit guarantee institution established to encourage banks and other financial institutions to lend to underserved sectors by sharing the risk of loan defaults, would provide financial support to facilitate farmers’ access to affordable agricultural loans, particularly for small and medium-scale growers.
Officials further informed the prime minister that the National Seed Policy and the National Agriculture Biotechnology Policy had recently been approved, providing a policy framework for improving seed quality and encouraging innovation in agricultural biotechnology.
Consultations on the Pakistan National Olive Value Chain Policy have been completed and the policy will soon be submitted for formal approval, the briefing added.
Work is also under way on a National Wheat Policy, while consultations continue on several policies relating to the livestock sector, reflecting the government’s broader strategy to modernise agriculture and improve productivity across multiple subsectors.
The meeting was attended by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister AttaullahTarar, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Kayani, the special assistant to the prime minister on industries Haroon Akhtar, the prime minister’s coordinator on agriculture Ahmed Omer, and senior officials from the ministries and institutions concerned.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026