Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin along with Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar said that the government is focusing on research and development by upgrading existing R&D facilities and initiating the establishment of two world class institutes of research for wheat and cotton.

Establishment of ten model agricultural union councils for each major crop across the country will be undertaken, besides promoting the model organic farming.The policy measures undertaken by the government have led to an estimated transfer of resources of about Rs 294 million into the rural economy.

Government has signed an agreement with Ms Monsanto of Untied States to formally introduce Generally Modified cotton into Pakistan on fast rack basis.It has been planned that the farmers will be offered BT cotton hybrids varieties during Fiscal Year 2009 10.Minister said that it is the vision of the government to treat livestock, agriculture and fisheries as an industry. In this context, the nil customs duty regime on tractors, poultry inputs and cattle feed would be continued in future.

Source: Ijaz Ahmad Rao