PM Shehbaz pushes major agricultural expansion and economic reform drive

-- Directs provinces, especially Balochistan, to submit plans for boosting cotton production

-- Orders immediate reconstitution of Cotton Board to strengthen farm sector governance

-- Calls for accelerated modernization of agriculture, PARC reforms, and climate-resilient farming

-- Reviews privatization roadmap for DISCOs as part of broader SOE reform agenda

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed provincial governments, particularly Balochistan, to prepare comprehensive plans aimed at significantly increasing cotton production, while emphasizing broader agricultural reforms and accelerating economic restructuring measures, including the privatization of power distribution companies.

Chairing a meeting with a delegation of agricultural sector stakeholders at the Prime Minister House, the prime minister instructed that the notification of the reconstituted Cotton Board be issued without delay. He stressed the need for coordinated federal and provincial efforts to boost crop yields, improve per-acre productivity, and strengthen climate-resilient agriculture.

The delegation included representatives from farmers’ organizations, dairy and livestock sectors, seed companies, and national and multinational agricultural firms. The meeting was held ahead of the upcoming federal budget for fiscal year 2026–27 to gather input from stakeholders on sectoral reforms.

Participants appreciated the government’s recent agricultural initiatives, including the Seed Policy and broader reform agenda, terming them a “game changer” for Pakistan’s farming sector. They also commended the leadership’s efforts toward maintaining stability amid regional tensions.

The prime minister said Pakistan’s agriculture sector holds immense potential to transform the national economy if modernized effectively. He noted that, with cooperation from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) is being upgraded to strengthen agricultural research capacity.

He also directed the formation of a national committee comprising experts and stakeholders to advance sustainable agricultural development. Key priorities, he said, include the promotion of hybrid climate-resilient seeds, expansion of horticulture, agricultural mechanization, and value addition in farm produce, alongside reforms in the dairy and livestock sectors.

During the briefing, officials highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the Zarkhaiz Scheme, under which small farmers are being offered loans of up to Rs 1 million on easy terms. The State Bank of Pakistan is also supporting farmers through crop insurance and risk coverage mechanisms, while draft legislation on animal health and breeding policies is being finalized.

The delegation expressed confidence in the government’s economic direction and put forward suggestions for resolving key challenges facing the agriculture sector.

In a separate high-level meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to expedite the privatization of State-Owned Enterprises, particularly electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), reiterating that reforms in loss-making public entities remain a top priority.

He instructed officials to ensure full transparency in the privatization process and to establish a strong regulatory framework following the transition of utilities to the private sector.

Officials briefed the meeting that in the first phase, Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) are being prepared for privatization. Expressions of Interest have already been published in national and international media, and the Cabinet Committee on Privatization has approved the transaction structure.

International roadshows are scheduled to begin this month to attract investment from countries including Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and China.

Both meetings were attended by senior federal ministers, advisers, and relevant government officials, reflecting the government’s parallel focus on agricultural transformation and structural economic reforms aimed at long-term stability and growth.