ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the federal government will provide 100 percent funding for the development of an indigenous vaccine against Foot and Mouth disease to promote the livestock sector. He was addressing a national seminar on ‘Harnessing Pakistan’s Livestock Potential’ in Islamabad today.
The Prime Minister said agriculture and livestock are the key sectors that can help revive Pakistan’s economy within a year if developed with dedication and coordinated efforts. He emphasized that increasing livestock exports is not possible without effectively controlling the disease.
Shehbaz also announced that, following last year’s initiative, another 1,000 fresh agriculture graduates from all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir will be sent to China this year for advanced training at government expense.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Pakistan Animal Identification and Traceability System, aimed at enhancing productivity in the livestock sector with a special focus on genetic improvement, disease control, and strengthened collaboration.
Also, PM Shehbaz Sharif said the business community is the backbone of the national economy and should be provided with every possible facility to enhance production and boost exports.
Chairing a meeting to review the affairs of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the prime minister directed the Board to work closely with the business community and resolve their legitimate concerns on a priority basis. He also instructed senior FBR officials to visit Karachi during the first week of every month to maintain direct engagement with the business community and ensure the prompt resolution of their issues. He expressed his confidence that Pakistan’s economy was on the path to stability, and the current year will be marked by economic growth and the expansion of business activities.
He said companies that comply with tax laws would be officially recognized and encouraged in appreciation of their contribution.
The prime minister emphasized that the government’s objective was to promote ease of doing business, encourage investment and exports, and make the tax system more transparent and simpler to strengthen the confidence of the business community. The meeting was also briefed on the performance of the FBR and the implementation of ongoing reforms.
It was informed in the meeting that production monitoring systems had been installed in the sugar, cement, tobacco, tiles, and fertilizer industries.
The installation of production monitoring systems in the textile and beverages industries is currently underway. During the past year, production monitoring in the sugar industry resulted in the collection of an additional Rs42 billion in taxes, the meeting was told.
In the cement industry, production monitoring led to the collection of an additional Rs 38 billion in tax revenue over the past year.
Similarly, the meeting was further informed that in the beverages industry, production monitoring generated an additional Rs15 billion in tax revenue during the past year.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar, Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan Jameel Ahmad, and other senior government officials.
PM Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to further improve coordination with the provincial governments and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) during the monsoon rains.
The prime minister issued the directives in a meeting with the NDMA Chairman Lt. General Inam Haider Malik, who called on him here.
The NDMA chairman briefed the prime minister on the preparedness to handle any emergency situation during the monsoon rains, as well as the progress on making the early warning system fully functional, and cooperation with the Ministry of Climate Change in this regard.
Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related events underscored the urgent need for greater preparedness, resilience and closer coordination among national, regional and international stakeholders to effectively respond to disasters.
Talking to United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher who called on him at the Prime Minister House, he appreciated the invaluable humanitarian work being undertaken by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in responding to complex emergencies across the world.
He acknowledged OCHA’s continued support to Pakistan, particularly during the devastating floods of 2022, and thanked the organization for its assistance in strengthening the country’s disaster response efforts.
The prime minister noted that Pakistan’s national and provincial disaster management institutions had significantly enhanced their capacity to respond to climate-induced disasters over the years.
Tom Fletcher thanked the prime minister for receiving him and appreciated the longstanding partnership and close cooperation between Pakistan and OCHA.
He also commended the Prime Minister’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability, noting that sustainable peace was essential to addressing the humanitarian and economic consequences of conflicts.
During the meeting, Mr. Fletcher briefed the prime minister on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the challenges being faced by OCHA in delivering urgently needed assistance to the affected population. He also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s continued support to OCHA’s humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.
The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working closely with the United Nations and OCHA to strengthen global humanitarian cooperation, enhance disaster preparedness, and support relief efforts for vulnerable communities affected by conflicts and natural disasters.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr. Syed Tauqir Shah, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, and other senior officials attended the meeting.
