ISLAMABAD
National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) on Tuesday approved as many as 78 development projects of MNS&R worth Rs.38250.893 million for incorporation in Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the upcoming fiscal year 2015-16.
The meeting of the committee was held here at PARC Headquarters under the chairmanship of MNA Malik Shakir Bashir Awan while Minister for NFS&R, Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan was also present on the occasion.  Additional Secretary NFS&R, Dr. M. Hashim Popalzai, Chairman Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad and representatives of concerned ministries were also present on the occasion. The projects for incorporation in PSDP 2015-16 include sixteen (16) ongoing projects costing Rs.2220.641million, thirteen (13) new projects worth Rs.346.814 million and forty nine (49) unapproved projects.
Among the projects fifty four (54) projects worth Rs. 5112.33 million are of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) which included fourteen (14) ongoing projects, eight (8) new projects and thirty two (32) unapproved projects. Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) said that promotion of agriculture sector, which is backbone of the country’s economy, was the priority of the government.
He said that steps are being taken to facilitate farmers to boost crop and livestock production in the country to ensure food security. He said that the federal government has given approval to export of 1.2 million surplus wheat besides approving the export of flour from the country. He said that government was negotiating with the government of Tajikistan for the export of wheat and expected positive development in this regard.
He recommended the committee to prevail upon the provincial governments to raise their budget for the livestock so that income of the poor farmers who depend on this sector may be raised to make them play due role in building national economy. It is pertinent to mention here that the projects approved by the Standing Committee would be sent to the federal government for incorporation in the upcoming Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the upcoming fiscal year 2015-16.