This letter refers to the news report ‘UAE to help Pakistan boost date palm cultivation’ (February 28, 2024). It is indeed ironic that the UAE, which is not exactly known for its agriculture, is offering to help Pakistan to boost date palm cultivation. Something is terribly wrong.
Either agricultural research does not get the funding it should get in Pakistan or our scientists do not take their jobs seriously. Pakistan's economy is mainly agriculture-oriented, so one might ask why we cannot stand on our own two feet.
Syed Hussein El-Edroos
Islamabad