Pakistan 'No fruit, veg imports from neighbouring countries'
Pakistan's Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan said…Pakistan's Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan said Friday 18 March that the interest of domestic farmers is the country's priority and for that reason they will not allow fruit and vegetable imports from neighbouring countries as long as local commodities are available in the market.
The minister was addressing the concluding ceremony of training course on Skill Development of Balochistan farmers at National Agricultural Research Center (NARC). He said the Irani apple was no longer being imported through Baluchistan, but was coming through the Turkham Border.
Highlighting the importance of water availability, the minister said that development of water reservoirs and dams in Baluchistan was paramount however added that after the 18th amendment in the constitution, the resources have been shifted to the provincial governments, so they need to take measures to build such facilities.
He said that the budget of his ministry has been reduced from Rs.32 billion to just Rs.1 billion after the 18th amendment.
The Minister, said that the government aims to train as many as 1000 Baluchistan farmers through the ongoing programme initiated by NARC.
Speaking on the occasion, Director General NARC, Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan said that agriculture projects worth Rs.360 million were being carried out in Baluchistan province.