NA committee approves Rs38bn food security projects

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s standing committee on National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) on Tuesday approved 78 projects worth Rs38.25 billion to be incorporated in the public sector development programme (PSDP) for the next 2015/16 fiscal year, a statement said on Tuesday.
The committee met with MNA Malik Shakir Bashir Awan in chair. Minister NFS&R Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan was also present on the occasion.
The projects approved by the committee would be sent to the federal government for incorporation in the upcoming PSDP 2015/16.
These projects include 16 ongoing projects costing Rs2.22 billion, 13 new projects worth Rs.346.8 million and 49 others, which were not approved last year.
Among the projects, 54 projects worth Rs5.11 billion are of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), which included 14 ongoing projects, eight new projects and 32 unapproved projects.
Speaking at this occasion, Federal Minister NFS&R said the promotion of agriculture sector, which is backbone of the country’s economy, is the priority of the government.
“Steps are being taken to facilitate farmers to boost crop and livestock production in the country to ensure food security,” said Bosan.
“The federal government has approved the export of 1.2 million surplus wheat and flour from the country.
The government was also negotiating with the government of Tajikistan for wheat export, and a positive development is expected.”
The minister recommended the committee to prevail upon the provincial governments to raise budget for the livestock so that income of the poor farmers, who depend on this sector, may be raised to let them play due role in building the national economy.
Members of the National Assembly, Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan, Syed Iftikhar-ul-Hassan, Shahnaz Saleem, Khalida Mansoor, Abdul Sattar Bachani, Faqir Sher Muhammad Bilalani, Muhammad Salman Khan Baloch and Dr Fouzia Hemeed also attended the meeting.
Additional Secretary NFS&R Dr M Hashim Popalzai, Chairman PARC Dr Iftikhar Ahmad and representatives of the concerned ministries were also present on the occasion.