13 August 2022

Pakistani media reported today that a joint meeting between various ministries held yesterday on Friday,  presided by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Tariq Bashir Cheema exploring avenues to further strengthen ties between Pakistan and Qatar in the agriculture and livestock sector in the backdrop of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to Qatar on August 23.

Meeting was attended by Tariq Bashir Cheema, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research; Mussadik Masood Malik, Minister of State for Petroleum Division; officials of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Food Security.

Among various proposals, it was discussed that Pakistan and Qatar could jointly form a company to co-invest in the agriculture sector. Furthermore, modern farms can be established with latest technology and techniques to improve the standards of farming. Value addition and food processing were identified as areas through which farmers can benefit.

The participants agreed that accreditation of farmers and certification of agricultural products could help to ensure the standard and quality.

Tariq Bashir Cheema said that the food security ministry had planned to improve the agriculture sector and for that purpose, there were plans to bring farming at par with the international standards.