Fazal Moqeem praises UN FAO for uplifting farmers and the agriculture sector
PESHAWAR
Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have agreed to collaborate for food control system assessment, food safety and quality regulatory regime in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The agreement was reached between SCCI president Fazal Moqeem Khan and a delegation of UN FAO led by its Head for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ms Kiyal here at the chamber, said a statement here on Saturday.
Other members of the UN FAO include Ms Oumou, Project Lead, Mr Martin, Project Team Member, Mujib ur Rehman, Arbab Madad Khan and Dr Jahangir.
Abdul Jalil Jan, the chamber senior vice president and Shehryar Khan, vice president, Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, a senior executive member of the SCCI, former SCCI’ president Malik Zahid Hussain, Secretary General Muqtasid Ahsan, officials and others were present during the meeting.
Meeting discussed various proposals and joint collaboration for enhancement of the food control system, safety and quality improvement, capacity building of the farming community, especially in KP food potentials like honey, fruits, dates and variety of traditional food, and improving the yield through provision of irrigation water for making barren lands cultivable etc.
Ms. Kiyal, provincial chief of UN FAO said that her organisation is working of four projects including tea cultivation, Aquaculture mapping, and Impact assessment of solar tube wells on the quality of water and Support project for cattle farming
Ms. Oumou gave a holistic overview of the project in Pakistan. She highlighted the importance of the food control system with reference to food safety in the country.
She told the meeting that FAO will submit its nationwide recommendations to the Planning Commission of Pakistan by the end of this year.
Ms Kiyala and Ms Oumou briefed the meeting regarding various interventions and scope of the project, implemented by UN FAO in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
SCCI president Fazal Moqeem Khan welcomed the delegation UN FAO and applauded its role and contributions towards food safety, quality enhancement and uplift and promotion of agriculture, aquaculture and capacity building of the farming community.
Moqeem emphasized the need of erecting a water channel to make huge barren lands cultivable in KP.
He opined the KP has been blessed with immense potential, natural beauty, scenic places, rugged mountains, orchards and forests and agriculture lands etc.
However, he said this region of Pakistan had also been adversely affected by natural and manmade disasters, earthquakes along with war against terrorism.
Moqeem said despite all odds, people of KP remained resilient and steadfast and continue to contribute share in national economic growth, prosperity, peace and progress.
He urged the FAO team to apprise SCCI about the regulations of imports of these products in the European Union.
SCCI chief also requested the FAO team to facilitate the local farmers for value addition of fruits and vegetables.
Mr Kiyala agreed with proposals of SCCI president Fazal Moqeem Khan and urged the chamber to identify food clusters to engage with relevant stakeholders in food chains for further collaboration and assistance at every level.
Fazal Moqeem Khan thanked the visiting UN FAO delegation and assured that SCCI will provide any kind of assistance and collective efforts toward uplift and promoting of the food and agriculture sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
