Naseem-ul-Haq
Pakistan is an agricultural country and agriculture is the backbone of its economy. Agriculture is the only sector in Pakistan that provides employment to a large number of people. At this time, it is necessary to pay special attention to this sector because it will improve the economic situation of the country. To develop agriculture on modern lines, to make barren land suitable for cultivation and to provide employment to the people in 2023. In August 2023, a major project “Green Pakistan Initiative” was announced to bring an agricultural revolution in the homeland with the support of the Pakistan Army, and was launched in South Balochistan.
This project, started with foreign investment, is the guarantor of the country’s economic stability and the harbinger of the agricultural revolution. The credit of realizing the dream of Green Pakistan (Green Revolution) is on the head of Army Chief General Asim Munir and it is basically his initiative. In this regard, this pilot project (pilot project) was started on 100,000 hectares of agricultural land in the desert region of South Balochistan. Initially, this project was started in two phases. For supply, 40 solar tubewells were installed in which 80% wheat and 20% watermelon were cultivated from this agricultural land.
In the second phase, 83 solar tubewells were installed for 1660 hectares of land. Initially, this project was for 2200 hectares of land, but on the insistence of the local people, more solar tubewells were installed, due to which 10% onion and 65% cotton crops are being cultivated. 95% of barren land has been leveled and 2460 hectares of land has been made suitable for cultivation. So far, 123 solar tube wells have been installed. More than 110 families of South Balochistan have benefited from these facilities in the first and second phase. With the support of FFC Sukkur, FC Balochistan (South) will start supplying fertilizer to the local farmers as per requirement in this month, August 2024.
As always, FC Balochistan (South) has provided public service to the local farmers by providing land leveling, solar tubewell, well drilling, help in cultivation and availability of fertilizers at discounted rates from FFC. The place has been very supportive. A pre-fab storage shed is being constructed in the desert. Agriculture Mall is being established in South Balochistan, besides 3-4 more Agriculture Malls are being built in Turbat, Panjgur, Awaran and Khuzdar.
In which the mentioned facilities are being provided to the local farmers. Supply of fertilizers and beech. Pesticides. Advice through technical experts. Machinery on rent for farmers. Drone technology spray machines. Cotton ginning factory is being set up in South Balochistan. Feasibility process is underway at this time. In view of the dependence of the population on the diesel business, in order to utilize the agricultural skills of the local people and keeping their interests in mind, this mega project is planned in the tehsils of South Balochistan, It is being extended to Mand, Balida, Torbat, Hoshab, Panjgur and Kharan so that more people can benefit from this project and unemployment can be eliminated.
The aim of the Green Pakistan Initiative program is to create socio-economic development and economic activities among the people and to provide alternative sources of employment to the local people to reduce the burden on the country’s exchequer from the diesel business. More than 110 families have benefited from only the second phase projection in an area of 2600 hectares. With the completion of this pilot project (pilot project), 1500 families will benefit from the fruits of development due to this project by the year 2027. FY 2024 -According to the details of the plan and expenditure related to farming under the Green Pakistan Initiative program in 2025, four to five billion rupees are being spent only in the areas of FC Balochistan (South), which will change the agricultural destiny of the area.
Under the Green Pakistan Initiative programme, about 200 million will be spent on upgrading existing research centers in Dasht and Panjgur, while around 500 million will be spent on purchasing tractors and machinery in easy installments for farmers in Dasht and Panjgur. Pesticides at discounted rates. Timely supply of medicines along with market access for fruits and vegetables is also an integral part of this program. On the launch of this mega project, local farmers have paid tribute to the services of Pakistan Army and especially FC Balochistan (South). Local farmers said that we were not able to cultivate our lands.
We were provided with solar tubewells and fertilisers, earlier people had migrated here due to unemployment but now they have started coming back to their respective areas. There has been an increase in the rate of employment, people are also happy because of getting employment, the participation of Pakistan Army is included in guaranteeing the success of the “Green Pakistan Initiative” project. The role of FC Balochistan (South) is highly commendable. The people associated with the agriculture sector in Pakistan consider this program important. According to the experts, if modern methods are adopted in this project, it will not only save the wasteland. It will be beneficial for Pakistan, but it will also be beneficial for Pakistan.
The mission that the Army Chief has started to transform the barren lands into fertile fields is the need of the country and the path to the prosperity of the nation. Inflation is under control, the historical boom in stock exchange and heavy foreign investment is coming, it is the need of the United States not to allow this continuity of development to break.
