The Pakistan Army has initiated its first agriculture project under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) with the aim of transforming barren lands into cultivable areas in South Waziristan.
The pilot project, launched in the Zarmalan district of South Waziristan, will focus on converting 1,000 acres of barren land into arable land suitable for cultivation.
The Pakistan Army has plans to extend this project to encompass an additional 44,000 acres of land, ultimately contributing to the improvement of the local economy for farmers and addressing malnutrition concerns in the region.
Local residents have expressed their gratitude to the Pakistan Army for completing the pilot project, recognizing its potential to stimulate farming activities and create new employment opportunities in the area.
Army Chief and Prime Minister Launch First Corporate Farm as Part of Green Pakistan Initiative
Earlier, Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the country’s first corporate farm as part of the Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI), aimed at modernizing agricultural practices in Pakistan.
The GPI focuses on water conservation, sustainable farming, and research and development. Recently launched, along with the Land Information and Management System Center of Excellence (LIMS-CoE), this initiative aims to enhance modern farming on over 9 million hectares of uncultivated state land. Saudi Arabia has provided an initial investment of $500 million for this initiative. Furthermore, it will collaborate with several countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and China, on various agriculture projects to boost Pakistan’s exports.
Agriculture currently contributes 23% to Pakistan’s GDP and employs 37.4% of the labor force. However, productivity is lower than desired, with issues such as decreasing cultivation area, a population-production gap, and significant agricultural imports amounting to $10 billion. There is also a significant shortfall in wheat production and a decline in cotton production.
In response to these challenges, the Pakistani government has partnered with the army to launch the Green Pakistan Initiative. This initiative aims to enhance food security, increase exports, and reduce agricultural-related imports.
During the inauguration ceremony of the 2,250-acre corporate farm, Army Chief Gen. Munir stated that an agricultural revolution would continue in Pakistan, benefiting small farmers and expanding the Green Initiative across the country.
In addition, this initiative aligns with Pakistan’s efforts to attract foreign investment, including the establishment of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), in which the military plays a significant role.
