FM Qureshi favours lease of Pak land for agriculture

Pak Tribune | 11 September 2009

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the government has so far not requested for any input from the Foreign Office regarding interest shown by foreign parties to lease Pakistani land for agriculture.

“But if my ministry is asked for its input, then I would not oppose this move completely, rather I feel that if we negotiate with these foreign parties, keeping the interests of Pakistan in mind, then it can be a win-win situation for both the parties,” Qureshi told our sources in his office on Thursday.

The minister who himself is an agriculturist said that there is barren land in different areas of Pakistan on which not a blade of grass grows. However, with pictures of thousands of Pakistanis standing in queues for flour or sugar, several reports say that the last thing that the country needs is to sell its agricultural land. Qureshi said it was former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz who had brought about the policy of corporate farming in areas which was not being irrigated.

“Nothing has been agreed upon as yet as far as I know but there is nothing wrong with it. Pakistan has to negotiate the terms and conditions specially to ensure that the entire harvest is not taken out. Modern technology will also come in and food processing industry can also be set up,” added the minister.

Separately, Qureshi said his ministry was gearing up for the different meetings to be held in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. “In this regard we have already met with the Kashmiri leadership both from Azad Kashmir and Indian held Kashmir. We have had candid discussions and taken them into confidence of where we stand with India as far as the composite dialogue is concerned,” said Qureshi.

Also on the cards before the Pakistan delegation leaves for New York is an inter-ministerial consultative meeting with all the stakeholders to discuss bilateral relations with India and the way forward. This will be followed by another inter-ministerial meeting on Afghanistan.
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