Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan has said, “We have to achieve the goal of food export after attaining the self-sufficiency and by ramping up farm mechanisation, which will accelerate growth rate in agriculture sector.”
Talking to news persons on Friday, the minister said the government would not allow the fleecing by the fertilisers as well as seed dealers and interests of the growers would be protected. He said that some elements were selling fertilisers at exorbitant rate and they were extorting Rs 150 per bag excess than fixed price and such practice would never be tolerated.
The minister claimed the incumbent government is committed to welfare of farming community. In this regard various measures are being taken to uplift and modernise agriculture sector, he added. The minister said he would take up the issue of an increase in General Sales Tax (GST) from 10 percent to 17 percent with relevant authorities after evaluating the matter, as a result, the prices of tractors have increased substantially, which was affecting the farming community.
He said the country has investment-friendly policies, adding that according to policy the foreign investors are allowed to take 100 percent profit out of the country. The minister emphasised the need for further enhancing trade and economic relations between different countries.