By ANI Correspondent
ISLAMABAD–Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Farmers Wing has strongly rejected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s reported remarks describing Pakistan’s agricultural and livestock research centres as “dead horses,” arguing that Pakistani scientists are making major contributions to the agricultural sectors of Australia, New Zealand and other countries after leaving Pakistan due to inadequate support and research opportunities.
PTI Farmers Wing Central Information Secretary Khalid Nawaz Sadhraich termed the Prime Minister’s remarks “deeply regrettable,” saying they reflected a disconnect from the challenges facing Pakistan’s agricultural research sector. He criticized successive governments for underfunding agricultural research while neighboring countries such as India, China and Bangladesh invest significantly more in innovation.
Sadhraich said Pakistani agricultural scientists have earned international recognition and are contributing to advances in climate-resilient agriculture, crop biofortification, livestock management and sustainable soil health through universities and research organizations in Australia and New Zealand.
He maintained that Pakistan’s research institutions were once among the world’s leading centres and questioned the policies that had forced many top scientists to seek opportunities abroad. He also credited former Prime Minister Imran Khan with taking practical steps to revive agriculture by engaging directly with farmers and supporting the sector.
Highlighting agriculture’s importance to the national economy, Sadhraich said the sector contributes around 24 percent to Pakistan’s GDP and supports the livelihoods of over 60 percent of the population. He urged the government to introduce a comprehensive farmer-friendly agricultural policy, increase investment in research institutions, improve researchers’ salaries and provide modern facilities.
He expressed confidence that with adequate government support, Pakistani agricultural scientists could once again make the country a global leader in agricultural and livestock research.
