RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Provincial Caretaker Minister for Agriculture, Khair Muhammad Junejo Saturday said the country is facing acute water shortage, which is a major threat to the agricultural sector.

Addressing the ceremony marking curtain raiser of first-ever “Pakistan Horticulture Vision 2030” at the Federation House, Junejo said that recent water shortage may affect cotton crop.

Presently, water level at the Tarbela Dam has even declined to lowest level, which is alarming situation and the available water may end in next two to three weeks, he added. “There is need to take some concrete steps to avert the water shortage in the country,” he urged. On the occasion, Syed Sammar Hasnain Executive Director State Bank of Pakistan said that the SBP’s major focus is on the three major sectors i.e. Agriculture, SMEs and Housing for long term economic growth. In order to promote and support the agricultural sector, the agriculture credit disbursement target was one trillion rupees for fiscal year 2017-18 (FY18), he added.

He said that agricultural credit disbursement remains a key challenge for the banks as disparity persists in the parts of country. The agricultural credit target for this fiscal year will be higher than previous year, he added.

Addressing the curtain raising ceremony Waheed Ahmed Patron-in-Chief of All Pakistan Fruit & vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) and Vice President Federation Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), “Pakistan Horticulture Vision 2030” is a comprehensive research being launched for the first time by a private sector for raid uplift of the horticulture sector.

“We are confident that by adopting this vision the current export fruits & vegetables can be enhanced to one billion dollar within next two years, $ 3.5 billion in 5 years and some $ 6 billion within a period of a decade”, he said and added that presently, Pakistan’s horticulture exports are less than a billion US dollar ($571 million) due to number of factor including major focus on traditional products and lack of innovation as compared to competitors. The country’s major sector is also faces financing issues as well.

He informed that consultative process with stakeholders of all the provinces has already been concluded with a view to develop a 10 years’ road map and the road map for development of the horticulture sector would be rolled out before the General Election 2018. In addition, the road map also becomes a source of fetching foreign investment of $ one billion within a period of 10 years.

“To transform this road map in the form of policy documentation, a national conference titled “Pakistan Horticulture Vision 2030” (PHV -2030) is being organized in Karachi on July 18, 2018 prior to the General Election,” he maintained.

Waheed said that for implementation on this road map, it would be sent to the federal, provincial governments including all political parties contesting in the general election.

The Pakistan Horticulture Vision would be of great assistance to the federal and provincial governments would be emerged as a result of general election, to put the country on the path of development and stability, he said.

He said that the with effective implemented of this vision, new job opportunities for about 5 million people will be created while the wages earned by the people associated with Agriculture & Horticulture sectors can also be enhanced five times compared to the current wages by providing enhancing their skills.

Vice President FPCCI said that the invitation cards for launching of Vision 2030 have already been sent to all political parties while the major political parties already confirmed their participation. He said that the trend of politics in has now also been reversed in Pakistan and the Political parties being well aware that people have become too demanding and realistic. Now, parties are needs to change their priority and instead of just relaying on “Political slogans” they have to provide firm assurances on “practical solutions to resolve issue of the country,” he added.