In order to assess the impact of trade liberalisation with India on agriculture sector, the government has convened a meeting of representatives of all key agri organisations to have their input on items to be included in the positive list for having win-win situation for both the countries.
Sources in agriculture sector said that the meeting of agriculture sector will be held on January 31 at the Ministry of Commerce, which will discuss matters related to trade liberalization with India. The representatives of all associations dealing with major agriculture commodities would give their recommendations on slashing the negative lists aimed at normalising trade relations on the basis of Non-Discriminatory Market Access (NDMA) with India.
However, Chairman Agri Forum Pakistan Muhammad Ibrahim Mughal when contacted said that the government did not invite him to the meeting. He said that government invites only those organisations which are dancing to its tune. Sources that the government has invited Zubair Ahmed Malik, President, Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Karachi, Tariq Ali Bucha, President, Farmers Associates Pakistan, Lahore, Hamid Malhi, President, Basmati Growers Association, Lahore, Chairman, Poultry & Vegetable Farmers Association, Islamabad, Chairman, Pakistan Agriculture & Dairy Farmers Association, Faisalabad, Chairman, Pakistan Dairy Association, Lahore and Chairman, Pakistan Tea Association, Karachi in the meeting.
Similarly, Chairman, Pakistan Jute Mills Association, Lahore, Chairman, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan, Lahore, Chairman, Pakistan Sugar Mills Association, Islamabad, Chairman, Mango Growers Association Pakistan, Multan, Chairman, All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters & Importers & Merchants Association, Karachi, Chairman, Pakistan Fisheries Exporters Association, Karachi, Chairman, Pakistan Fruit Processors Association, Lahore, Chairman, Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association, Islamabad, Abdul Majeed Nizamani, Chairman, Sindh Abadgar Board, Hyderabad, Akram Khalid, Pakistan Horticulture Export Development Board, Lahore and Hidayatullah, D.G., Agriculture Extension, Government of Sindh, Karachi have also been invited to attended the meeting.
The government also invited Inayatullah Khan, SG, Pakistan Sugar Mills Association, Islamabad, Javed Ali Ghori, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan, Lahore, Sarfraz Ahmed Khan, Vice-President, Kissan Board Pakistan. Lahore, Malik M. Ramzan Roohari, Secretary General, Kissan Board Pakistan, Lahore, Ibad-ur-Rehman Khan, President, Guawa Growers Association, Lahore, Wing Commander Muhammad Younus (Retd), Secretary General, Pakistan Jute Mills Association, Lahore, Ali Raza Jamali, Director, Agriculture Department, Government of Baluchistan, Quetta, Abdur Rashid, DGA (E), Agriculture Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar, Dr Muhammad Ahjum Ali, DGA (Ext & AR), Agriculture Department, Government of Punjab, Lahore, Sohail Muhammad Khan, National Food Security & Research Division/ Agriculture Policy Institute (API), Islamabad.
