Punjab courts Chinese investment in farm machinery manufacturing

Punjab has invited Chinese companies to establish agricultural machinery manufacturing plants in the province as the government seeks to attract investment into agriculture, livestock and related industries.

Punjab Agriculture and Livestock Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani made the offer during a meeting with a high-level Chinese delegation in Lahore on Saturday.

The minister said the use of modern farm equipment in Punjab was expanding steadily, with high-horsepower tractors, harvesters and other machinery currently being imported from China.

He said Chinese investors could also tap opportunities in seed development, fertiliser production, biotechnology and crop protection.

Kirmani said Punjab remains the core of Pakistan’s agricultural economy, producing 76% of the country’s wheat, 62% of rice, 54% of cotton, 98% of maize and 71.3% of sugarcane.

He added that the province contributes around 60% of national milk production and 65% of meat output, while the government is pursuing value addition and export-oriented initiatives in dairy and meat processing.

Members of the Chinese delegation said they were interested in bringing innovation to Punjab’s agriculture sector and in setting up manufacturing facilities for modern agricultural machinery.

Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo briefed the delegation on ongoing provincial initiatives to improve productivity and modernise the sector.

The meeting was also attended by Livestock Secretary Ahmad Aziz Tarrar, Tourism Secretary Socrates Aman Rana and other senior officials.