Islamabad
The All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) has said that the latest food trade figures offer Pakistan an important opportunity to strengthen domestic agriculture, expand food processing and improve value addition, while welcoming the encouraging recovery in food exports at the start of the new fiscal year.
In a joint statement, APBF President Syed Maaz Mahmood and Chairman Ibrahim Qureshi said that Pakistan’s food imports rising to $805.5 million in July should serve as a reminder of the enormous potential available for local industry, farmers and investors to gradually replace import dependence with competitive domestic production. They said the increase in imports, particularly edible oil and pulses, highlights sectors where Pakistan can encourage investment, improve productivity and develop stronger value chains.
“Pakistan has a large agricultural base, a sizeable consumer market and an expanding food-processing industry. The current import trend should be viewed as an opportunity to identify gaps in domestic production and turn them into new avenues for investment and growth,” Syed Maaz Mahmood said.
He said that greater investment in oilseed cultivation, modern farming, improved seed varieties, irrigation efficiency and processing facilities could help Pakistan progressively reduce its dependence on imported edible oil.
The APBF president said that the rising demand for food products also reflected the size and potential of Pakistan’s domestic market. With appropriate planning, a significant portion of this demand could be met through locally produced and processed products, creating new opportunities for farmers, small businesses and the manufacturing sector.
Ibrahim Qureshi said the improvement in raw food exports in July was particularly encouraging after the sharp decline recorded during the previous fiscal year.
He said the strong performance of rice exports, along with growth in meat, fish, tobacco and spices, demonstrates that Pakistan retains considerable potential in international food markets.
The APBF chairman said Pakistan could substantially increase its export earnings by improving food processing, packaging, quality certification, cold-chain infrastructure and compliance with international standards.
Syed Maaz Mahmood said that sectors showing weaker export performance, including fruits and vegetables, should also be viewed from a reform and growth perspective. Pakistan has the potential to become a major supplier of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, but this requires better storage, transportation, processing and market linkages.
