Minister for Finance Asad Umer on Sunday has said the government is focusing to promote the agricultural sector, which is the backbone of the country.  

Talking to a private news channel, he said concrete measures are being taken to provide loan and other facilities to farmers.     

He said electricity and fertilizer facilities were being provided to farmers at affordable rates.

Asad Umar said steps are being taken to enhance financial resources for putting the institutions on the path of speedy progress.

Replying to a query, he said this would be the last IMF programme of this government.

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) also stated in a report that agriculture is the backbone of the economy, therefore, it should get the attention it deserves.

The agriculture sector contributes around 18 per cent to the GDP, employs 42 per cent of the total labour force, and constitutes 75 per cent of the total exports revenue.

The cost of doing business for the farmers should not be increased to improve share of this critical sector in the national GDP, it said.

It is impossible to ensure national development while keeping agricultural development on the backburner, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

He said that agriculture is no more the largest sector of the economy but it continues to provide jobs to the majority of the labour.

Murtaza Mughal said that growth in this sector has remained unimpressive during the last ten years which proves apathy of the policymakers.

He noted that the high cost of inputs continues to reduce production which has been contributing to poverty in the rural areas.

Circumstances and some policies continue to push farmers to prefer low-cost crops over high-value crops while different packages announced in the past have not helped achieve results.