Prime Minister Shehbaz chairs a meeting on austerity measures. PHOTO: SCREENSHOT
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday ordered special arrangements to help meet the food needs of Gulf states where supply chains have been affected by the ongoing war, while ensuring the country’s food security through strict control of supply and demand.
Chairing a meeting to review Pakistan’s food situation and export of surplus commodities in light of changing regional dynamics, the Prime Minister directed authorities to maintain comprehensive monitoring of food supply and demand so that national requirements remain fully protected and the public does not face shortage.
The officials briefed the meeting in detail about the country’s existing food reserves, domestic production and export opportunities. The briefing said that Pakistan currently has abundant stocks of food items and there is no shortage of any essential commodities.
The Prime Minister said disruptions in global supply chains have increased the export potential of Pakistani products in the region, creating new markets and opportunities for the country’s agriculture sector.
The Prime Minister directed that special attention be given to meeting the food needs of the Gulf countries and ensuring their food security while safeguarding Pakistan’s domestic needs.
He asked relevant authorities to prepare a comprehensive strategy to export surplus food to Gulf countries without affecting Pakistan’s domestic food requirements, stressing that high quality standards must be ensured for food products exported to friendly Gulf countries.
To facilitate the process, the Prime Minister directed the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation to take necessary steps to export food items to Gulf countries through sea routes to speed up and streamline deliveries.
The meeting was informed that Pakistan’s agricultural sector, including crops, meat, poultry, dairy and seafood, has significant production capacity and export potential. The Prime Minister also ordered the formation of a committee to monitor the situation on a daily basis.
Prime Minister Shehbaz further asked Pakistan’s ambassadors and trade officials posted in Gulf countries to remain proactive in promoting exports and take advantage of emerging opportunities.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Rana Tanveer Hussain and Ahsan Iqbal, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, senior officials and representatives of concerned private associations.
