'South Punjab can never address the issue of poverty reductions and development without massive funding and uplifting of agriculture sector,' the President, Mango Growers Association (MGA) Pakistan, Zahid Hussain Gardezi said. He was speaking to a meeting of Multan Chamber of Comm-erce and Industry (MCCI), chaired by Punjab Chief Minister, Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.
While appreciating the efforts of the present Punjab Govern-ment in combating illiteracy, addressing health problems and undertaking development projects including the cold storage system for fruits and vegetables, he demanded that agriculture sector should be given priority as that is the panacea of a change towards prosperity.
He said that Mega agriculture beneficial projects should be launched to end deprivation of the region. Gardezi said that farmers in this part of Pakistan are surviving shelter less and barefooted living especially, the majority of small farmers. Developing infrastructure and investing in agriculture food industry will help growers get better returns of their produce through value addition.
He said that agriculture export processing zone in the proximity of the proposed National Trade Corridor passing through South Punjab along Indus Highway, linking China and Central Asian Republics to deep seaport of Gwadar, will immensely change the economic topography of the region and usher it into progress and prosperity. Gardezi further gave a list of proposed projects to the CM under the following heading.
The association presented a master plan for agriculture sector development in Southern Punjab in which MGA suggested that fruits and vegetables processing industry (Mango Pack Houses), packaging and printing plant, manufacturing of polymer water retainers for soil, fruits and vegetables harvesting industry and cluster market. Further, he said that Pakistan is gradually facing water deficiency. The proposed project requires a study of using soil polymers manufactured in China and USA for local manufacturing.
A private sector company envisaged as Direct Foreign Investment to undertake the projects and execute three pronged action that include setting up of Buying Centre for mango and fruits under one roof, Washing, Grading, Cooling for exporters and Processing Industry and Controlled Atmosphere Cold Storage.
Shahbaz advised the Punjab Secretary, Commerce and Industries, who was present in the meeting to study the proposed projects. Gardezi also proposed subsidised tractors for all farmers having smaller land holdings.
The meeting further proposed an exclusive meeting between the office bearers of MGA and the CM.