Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa has called upon the agricultural scientists to pay attention on developing genetically improved disease-free seeds aimed to achieve higher yields of different crops. He said Pakistan has lot of potential in agricultural sector and our farmers not only can produce for ourselves but also for the export. He said that our agricultural scientists should work for ‘gene revolution’ and not just for green revolution.
These views were expressed by him while he was speaking at the 5th Export Awards of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP). The function was also addressed by the REAP Chairman Irfan Ahmad Sheikh, Abdur Raheem Janoo and Pir Nazim Hussain Shah. The Governor said that present government was fully supporting the agricultural sector and agro-based industries.
The government after coming in to power raised the wheat support price and now we are exporting this commodity. He assured the office-bearers of REAP to extend fully help in their endeavour to raise rice exports from Pakistan. He said all the problems raised by the REAP chairman will be taken up at the quarters concerned both at the Federal and provincial level.
He said that the agricultural sector has the potential to meet our requirements. Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Chairman Irfan Ahmad Sheikh speaking on the occasion expressed his satisfaction that Pakistan performed well on rice export front despite difficult conditions due to last year’s flood. He hoped that Pakistan would touch $2.2 billion mark till June 30, despite the fact that it had exported one million tons rice less than last year.