Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday chaired high-level meetings in Islamabad to review critical reforms in agriculture and information technology, calling for urgent measures to strengthen climate resilience in cotton production and align digital reforms with global best practices.
During a session on agriculture, Dar reviewed the impacts of recent large-scale floods on cotton output, possible shortages, and supply chain disruptions. The meeting also discussed strategies to enhance productivity, support farmers with better inputs, and expand exports under the Agricultural Transformation Plan.
Participants highlighted pressing challenges including water scarcity, climate change, limited access to quality seed, ineffective pesticides, and outdated farming practices. Dar stressed the adoption of climate-smart agriculture, greater investment in research, and stronger coordination between the government, industry, and farmers to safeguard the sector.
In a separate meeting on IT and telecom reforms, the Deputy PM underlined the importance of aligning Pakistan’s digital policies with international standards to unlock the country’s full potential. The review focused on expanding connectivity, promoting innovation, and creating a business-friendly environment to attract investment and accelerate the digital economy.
The meetings were attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, officials of the National Coordinator SIFC, and the secretaries of food, IT, commerce, privatization, law, and planning, along with senior officers from federal and provincial departments.
