CPEC will bring agricultural revolution in Pakistan: Federal Minister

Islamabad: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will bring an agricultural revolution in Pakistan, a senior minister said.

Dr Fahmida Mirza, Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination, mentioned that agriculture was the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and CPEC’s support would put it on the right track.

Speaking at a briefing during her visit along-with her agriculturist husband Dr Zulfiqar Mirza at National Agricultural Research Centre (PARC) Islamabad, she contended that a sound and fair policy was the need of the hour to boost the agriculture sector.

“We need a sound and fair policy which harmonizes the needs of farmer to bring technological and revolutionary change in agriculture,” she remarked.

Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali, Acting Chairman PARC along-with Syed Shamim ul Sibtain Shah Director General National Agricultural Research Centre Islamabad (NARC) briefed the honorable guests, according to an official statement.

Dr Ali briefed them about the accomplishments of agriculture institutions especially in tissue culture used for the acquisition of high yielding banana cultivar and production of disease free banana and potato plants. Both the guests, were also told about banana varieties.

Addressing the participants, Fahmida Mirza stated that “our country will see a record production of major crops in the coming years as the prime focus of present government is to bring revolutionary change in agriculture with the help from China (under the second phase of the gigantic CPEC).”

The Federal Minister was also briefed about Kiwi, Olive and other high value crops in addition to plants and animals DNA technology.

The Federal Minister was briefed about the Horticulture Research Institute where she expressed keen interest in the latest research.

Fahmida Mirza desired to establish a research institute at her hometown Badin in the Sindh province.

At the end of the visit, the Federal Minister visited rice fields where she inspected long grain and other different varieties.