Lahore - Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi Monday visited Nawaz Sharif Agricultural University Multan and held a consultation session with professors, researchers and farmers.
It was agreed during the discussion to promote agricultural research sustainably. The CM announced a ministerial committee for devising comprehensive recommendations for the promotion of agri-research.
The committee, comprising provincial ministers SM Tanvir, Bilal Afzal, Javed Akram and Ibrahim Murad, will present a comprehensive plan in consultation with all stakeholders.
The participants proposed different suggestions to increase productivity and access to modern seed varieties and appreciated the efforts of the CM for a good cotton crop.
Addressing the participants, the CM said that the government will seek guidance and feedback from professors, researchers, and farmers to promote the agri sector. Unfortunately, there is a lack of research in the agricultural sector, so research institutes need to take the lead in conducting research, he said. We are lagging in the seed industry; Uzbekistan which imported seeds from here is now achieving double cotton production, the CM noted.
He emphasized that positive steps can be taken for the advancement of agriculture through consultation with professors and researchers from agricultural universities.
Your guidance is essential for increasing agricultural production; all private and public agricultural universities should prepare their recommendations within 7 days, and the ministerial committee will prepare a final action plan based on these recommendations, he announced. The government would do everything to promote the agriculture sector capabilities of 1500 PhDs associated with this field would be fully exploited to benefit the country. CM took note of the proposals and ensured the implementation of practical recommendations.
Before this, CM, provincial ministers, the chief secretary, IG police and secretaries travelled to the university in coasters from the south Punjab secretariat.