The first meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Agriculture and Climate/Flood Emergencies was chaired by Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal.
Addressing the meeting, Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that providing immediate, medium-term, and long-term relief to farmers is the government’s top priority. He stated that provincial governments must take urgent measures in partnership with the federal government to compensate affected farmers and support them for the upcoming Rabi season.
The federal minister particularly stressed the need to provide canola seeds to farmers within the next 15 days to take advantage of the soil moisture left behind by the floods. He said, “I have arranged a 5,000-acre canola seed pilot project in Narowal, to be operated through corporate sponsorship, because there is no time to waste. This is the time for immediate action — we must not lose it.”
Ahsan Iqbal further stated that it is time to look beyond traditional crops and focus on more profitable alternatives like canola, which not only ensures higher returns for farmers but also enjoys strong market demand.
He also highlighted the importance of expanding interest-free loan schemes for farmers through financial institutions and emphasized the gradual shift towards private insurance systems to protect against recurring climate shocks.
