The Prime Minister says food supply and demand must be fully monitored to ensure national food needs are met.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on Sunday to review Pakistan’s domestic food situation and the export of surplus commodities as the Gulf War disrupts supplies. PHOTO: PMO
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday directed the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) to take necessary measures to export food to Gulf countries through sea routes as the Iran war disrupts food supply in the region, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The statement said Prime Minister Shehbaz chaired a meeting to review Pakistan’s domestic food situation and export of surplus products in light of changing regional dynamics due to the US-Israel war against Iran.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Rana Tanveer Hussain and Ahad Khan Cheema, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, senior officials, provincial chief secretaries and representatives of private sector associations.
The prime minister ordered that “complete monitoring of food supply and demand be carried out to ensure that national food needs are met.” Officials informed the meeting that Pakistan has “abundant food reserves and there is no shortage of any essential commodities.”
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Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted that disruptions in global supply chains had “increased Pakistan’s export capacity in the region” and directed that food supply to the Gulf countries and their food security be ensured.
He also called for a comprehensive plan “to export surplus food to Gulf countries without affecting Pakistan’s domestic food needs” and emphasized that “high standards must be maintained” in these exports, the statement added.
A committee will be formed to review the situation on a daily basis, while ambassadors and trade officials stationed in the Gulf countries will be instructed to remain proactive.
The briefing, the statement said, included details of Pakistan’s extensive export potential across its agricultural sector, including crops, meat, poultry, dairy and seafood.
