There is a vast potential for investment in the agriculture sector, and the incentives would be announced in the upcoming budget to encourage private sector for investment to bring improvement in the infrastructure for better storage and marketing of agro-produce.
Minister for Agricultural Marketing Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon stated this while addressing the executive committee members of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) here on Wednesday.
He said the government was going to provide atmosphere conducive to private sector for investment through public-private partnership. He said that citrus would be exported to Iran and China next year via road and train, as negotiations in that regard had been finalised. He added that infrastructure to encourage the export of perishable items was being improved in collaboration with the private sector. He said that the government was taking various steps to eliminate the role of middleman, protect the growers and control the price hike through better marketing of agriculture produce.
Qasim Noon further said that development work in the market committees was being carried out and Rs one billion were spent for that purpose during the fiscal year 2005-06.
He said that Punjab Agriculture Marketing Company (Pamco) had been established to attract investment from the private sector in agricultural marketing process and Rs 200 million had been set aside initially for that purpose. He said that 'Kissan Ghar' was being set up near the sugar mills where market, mosque and other necessary facilities would be made available for the farmers and other stakeholders concerned with sugar mills. He said that Arbitration Board would be set up to settle disputes between sugar mills management's and the farmers.
To a question, he said that Kalabagh Dam was a lifeline for the country and Pakistan People's Party should not politicise a pure economic issue. He said that Kalabagh Dam was the most viable option for cheap electricity and much needed water for agro-based economy.
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