Islamabad (Web Desk/Agencies): Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on Monday said the Pakistan Army assured all possible support for the economic development of the country as an institution with full dedication and spirit to complete this stage.
Addressing the National Seminar on Agriculture and Food Security, the army chief said the forum was convened to gather all here to make Pakistan green again.
“Allah has blessed Pakistan with many blessings. We are a talented nation, the only requirement is that we contribute to its development together,” he added.
“Do not despair of Allah’s mercy, only unbelievers disappoint of Allah’s mercy, the Army Chief quoted the reference to Holy Quran.
He added that there were only two states for a Muslim: when he is afflicted, he is patient; when he is blessed, he is grateful.
“For a Muslim, despair is disbelief,” he said.
Pakistan has to progress and no power in the world can stop it from progressing, InshAllah (By the Will of Allah), he said.
“We have all kinds of potential that can take Pakistan to the top,” the Army Chief said.
Addressing the seminar, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed that the government and relevant institutions will have to work together to trigger the second agriculture revolution in the country.
He said the Gulf Countries are ready to invest in Green Pakistan Initiative which will enhance our agriculture productivity and equip it with the latest technology.
PM Shehbaz said that the initiative to likely to attract investment to the tune of thirty to fifty billion dollars in the next four to five years.
He said this will also provide job opportunities to four million people. He credited COAS General Asim Munir for envisioning this initiative. He was confident that our agriculture economy will revive in the next two years.
The premier assured to extend full facilitation to the farmers in order to bolster agri productivity.
"It is the responsibility of the government to provide conducive environment to the farmers through provision of quality seeds, pesticides and fertilizers," he said, adding that the farmers should also get due price of their crops.
PM Shehbaz said that the country witnessed record wheat production this year as the government enhanced the wheat support price.
He expressed the confidence that the cotton crop will also see a major boost because of increase in its minimum support price.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan is spending $4.5 billion on the import of edible oil. He said the country cannot afford this situation.
Agriculture experts and farmers highly appreciated the government's landmark initiative and Pakistan Army's special focus on revolutionizing the agriculture sector by promoting modern contemporary technology, collaboration of public and private sectors and trickling down dividends to the local farmers to alleviate poverty.