Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for a comprehensive action plan to reform and modernize Pakistan’s agriculture sector, emphasizing sustainability and long-term growth. Speaking in Islamabad on July 8, 2025, he urged authorities to boost crop yields, expand value-added exports, and integrate technologies like artificial intelligence to tackle declining productivity and rising climate-related risks.
Agriculture accounts for 23% of Pakistan’s GDP and employs nearly 38% of its workforce, yet recent data shows output dropped to 1.1% in Q2 FY2024–25—down sharply from 5.8% the previous year. Users on X have expressed strong public support for urgent reforms, particularly around easing credit access and reducing taxes on farm inputs to support smallholder farmers.
The proposed strategy includes provincial collaboration and private-sector engagement, with examples like IoT-based pilot projects in Sindh helping optimize soil and weather monitoring for climate-resilient farming. Sharif also cited the 129 agri-tech startups launched under the National Technology Fund’s “Ignite” initiative as a model for innovation.
Key elements of the roadmap include expanding storage infrastructure, improving loan accessibility, and developing agri-based industries focused on export-grade production. The prime minister also called for activating public-private partnerships in research centers to enhance crop yields.
Given Pakistan’s vulnerability to extreme weather, including the 2022 floods that displaced millions, the reforms aim to build long-term food security and economic resilience. Farmers and businesses are encouraged to follow updates from official sources as the government finalizes the framework.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 8th, 2025
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