DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Prime Minister Imran Khan has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bolster production of agriculture products in order to meet the requirements of growing population.
He was addressing a ceremony in Dera Ismail Khan in connection with distribution of Kisan Cards amongst the farmers and inauguration of the command area of Gomal Zam Dam and Pakistan Agriculture Research Council’s arid sesearch stations.
Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his confidence that the present government will win the war against mafias and ensure the supremacy of law. “If we have to become a great nation, which was the concept [behind Pakistan’s creation], we have to ensure the rule of law,” Imran Khan said while addressing Kissan Convention here.
The Prime Minister, however, added that masses will also have to change their attitudes to become a great nation. “It is shameful that some people sitting abroad, living in the properties worth billions of rupees cannot show even a receipt of how they got that money?, and making speeches from there,” he remarked. The prime minister said that big mafias did not want the rule of law in Pakistan because they benefit from the corrupt system.
PM Imran Khan said despite having much fertile lands and bumper wheat crops the country had to import 4 million tons of wheat last year and was again expected to import the vital commodity this year as well. He said as the country has to import basic commodities like ghee, pulses etc. to cater to the needs of growing population, there was a need to make plans to tackle such challenges.
He also attributed enhanced imports of commodities as one of the major causes of inflation and said the commodity prices had increased worldwide. He said Pakistan has to tackle this challenge by promoting its agricultural sector, research and increasing its cultivation areas and yields of various crops through modern techniques of farming.
The prime minister said the government has planned to locally produce all the essential items including pulses and palm oil. For this purpose, barren areas will be brought under cultivation besides ensuring better management of water and promoting research in the agriculture field.
PM Imran Khan was confident that Pakistan especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will witness a revolution in olive production. He said Pakistan has the most suitable land for olive cultivation and it will be able to export it to earn foreign exchange.
The prime minister pointed out that it is the first time that work has been started on construction of ten dams which will significantly enhance the water storage capacity. He said the government is also focusing on primary education and primary health care system to check the population growth.
In his remarks on the occasion, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan said that a food security policy has been prepared which will soon be presented in the provincial cabinet for approval. He said the agriculture sector has been prioritized to take forward the country.
Earlier, the Prime Minister formally launched Kissan Card scheme and inaugurated construction of the building of Agriculture University D.I.Khan, Gomal Zam Dam Command Area project and Agricultural Research Stations.
Under the first phase of Kissan Card scheme, farmers database would be improved and targeted subsidies for agricultural machinery and inputs would be provided to the farmers.
In the second phase of the scheme the farmers would be provided with different facilities including the provision of interest-free/low markup loans, crop insurance, and any other financial assistance in respect of natural calamities.
