CPEC to help boost Pakistan's agriculture sector; fulfill food security needs: Experts.

ISLAMABAD -- The experts participating in the policy dialogue 'National Agriculture and Food Security in Pakistan' which was held at Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad in collaboration with Pakistan Agriculture Scientists Forum (PAS Forum), were of the view that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will help boost Pakistan's agriculture sector and will fulfill food security needs.

The message emerged from the policy dialogue, held at Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad in collaboration with Pakistan Agriculture Scientists Forum (PAS Forum) that CPEC is improving Pakistan's connectivity not only within itself and China, but with over 60 other BRI countries as well. With the second phase of the Chinese venture presenting opportunities to collaborate in the social sector, substantial emphasis needs be laid on the development of the country's agriculture sector, which offers huge prospects of growth and trade.

The session was addressed by Dr Muhammad Azeem Khan, chairman, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC); Professor Dr Anwar-ul-Hasan Gilani, vice chancellor, University of Haripur and ex-chairman, Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST); Professor Dr Amanullah Malik, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad; Khalid Rahman, Executive President IPS; and Dr Abdul Wakeel, president, PAS Forum.

Presenting an overview of Pakistan's agriculture sector, Dr Azeem Khan emphasized the need of enhancing productivity of various potential sub sectors of agriculture, not only with an aim to address the country's food security concerns, but also to alleviate it for international trade.

Azeem Khan rued that Pakistan was a food exporting country till 2013 but became a food importing country thereafter. However, he observed that the second phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor offers a good opportunity to help the agriculture sector to recover, but the onus largely lies with the nation to set targets and strategies carefully in order to benefit from the forthcoming opportunities.

The PARC chairman was all for alleviating the agriculture sector via business-oriented model, which in his opinion, could only be done through value addition i.e. converting raw materials into standard commercial products and brands.

He highlighted that combinations of different commodities and products being produced alongside the CPEC routes boast significant prospects in this regard. There is a huge potential for the production and export of...