DERA GHAZI KHAN: Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Syed Fakhar Imam said with a need to modernise our economy and a heavy reliance on agriculture, Pakistan need only look to the world to see the benefits that could come from investing heavily in the sector as the only rural economy can pull the country out of the crisis.
He was speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected office-bearers of the Dera Ghazi Khan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) here Monday. Pakistan would have to strive for creating a self-sufficient agricultural sector, one that can provide food security for its 212 million people rather than rely on other countries to meet its food supply needs. Syed Fakhar Imam said that Pakistan should demonstrate an economic imagination and embrace technological innovation to boost its ailing agricultural sector, which contributes around 25 percent of the country's domestic economy. What a pity that the agriculture sector was neglected during the last 25 years consequently we forced to export pulses, grams, edible oil, and now we have imported wheat to meet our requirements.
He said that Punjab procured 4 million tons of wheat while Sindh hardly met its procurement target. He said that climate change, unexpected downpours, and attack of locust swarm badly hit our crops and we could not meet the wheat production target of 27 million. He said that there was the dire need of 1.2 million maund of certified, well germinated, and the qualitative seed of wheat to meet the requirement of farmers but we had certified only 450,000 maund of wheat-seed so far.
He was optimistic that CPEC would be a game-changer for the people of Dera Ghazi Khan and it would bring a revolution in the life of people. After taking oath newly elected President Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi said that Dera Ghazi Khan is his second home where his father Khawaja Muhammad Masud founded a chamber with the Collaboration of Mian Imdad A Sheikh. He said that our group of industries was providing jobs to people of Dera Ghazi Khan division.
Roomi said that I have requested Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar to provide land for Dera Ghazi Khan Chamber and we would construct the building on our own behalf. The Dera Ghazi Khan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) President Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi urged the government to announce a package of incentives for the cottage industry of Dera Ghazi Khan, which is facing multiple internal and external challenges. DCCI would continue to work for the cause of the cottage industry, which is the backbone of the industry.
It was absolutely necessary for the government to facilitate small businesses. He said that the development of agriculture and the prosperity of farmers can guarantee development and prosperity in the country. He said that the survival of industrialists lies in the revival of growers.
In his address, Chief Minister's advisor on Health Sardar Muhammad Hanif Pitafi has assured to get approve an industrial estate for Dera Ghazi Khan if 100 applications are handed over him for setting up of industrial units. He said that our next destination is a Tax-free zone in this area to attract the investors of other areas.
Commissioner Muhammad Sajid Zafar Daal said that he was endeavouring for the development of the livestock sector in the D G Khan division since he assumed the charge as Commissioner of this division.
Former Presidents of DCCI Khawaja Muhammad Younas and Sardar Zulfikar Ali Khan Nasuha also spoke Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Syed Fakhar Imam took oath from the newly elected office bearers Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi (President), Muhammad Latif Khan Pitafi (Senior Vice President) Sheikh Zahid Nizam Qureshi (Vice President) and member of Executive Committee.-PR
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020