Federal Cabinet Urges Provinces to Boost Wheat Procurement Targets

Islamabad, In a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today, the federal cabinet decided to request that Pakistan’s four provinces increase their wheat procurement targets and establish a favorable pricing scheme for the crop. This move is part of a broader strategy to bolster the agricultural sector and ensure economic prosperity for farmers.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, who briefed the media after the cabinet meeting, announced that the Ministry of National Food Security would send out the directive today. The Minister expressed confidence that these measures would not only benefit farmers but also have a positive impact on the rural economy, given the current abundant wheat stocks and the anticipation of a bumper crop this year.

The cabinet also discussed recent diplomatic and economic developments, including the productive visit of a Saudi delegation to Pakistan, which is expected to lead to significant Saudi investment across various sectors. Tarar highlighted that follow-up visits by both official and private Saudi delegations are scheduled in the coming months to finalize investment agreements, which are likely to boost Pakistan’s economy.

Additionally, the cabinet approved several key initiatives. These include the establishment of the Institute of Modern Sciences in Wah Cantonment and the Federal Public-Private Policy of Pakistan for 2023-2028, which aims to accelerate economic growth through public-private partnerships. The Prime Minister urged all ministries to submit proposals under this new policy framework.

Moreover, the cabinet ratified a Memorandum of Understanding between Qatar’s Ministry of Labour and Pakistan’s Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development concerning labor relations and safety. This agreement is expected to enhance the working conditions for the approximately 300,000 Pakistanis currently employed in Qatar, who collectively remit about 850 million rupees to Pakistan.