Federal Govt Ready To Sit With Farmers To Resolve Agri Sector Problems: Shah Mehmood

Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi Wednesday said the federal government was ready to sit with the provincial governments and farmer organizations to resolve problems of potato growers and different sectors of agriculture

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jan, 2019 ) :Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi Wednesday said the Federal government was ready to sit with the provincial governments and farmer organizations to resolve problems of potato growers and different sectors of agriculture.

He was responding to a point of order raised by Member National Assembly Rao Ajmal at the floor of the National Assembly about the difficulties faced by farmers due to slump in the prices of potatoes.

He said drop in prices of potatoes was not just due to local factors but the main reason was the international market conditions.

In India, bumper crop of potato was harvested and the produce was being sold for just Rs one per kg, he told.

He said after the 18th amendment, the subject of agriculture was devolved to the provinces and the matter of export of agricultural commodities was related to the Ministry of Commerce.

He said international prices would have to be considered for export of commodities like potatoes.

"We should sit together to resolve the issues affecting the livelihood of farmers." He said the present glut in the potato market was a demand and supply issue.

The minister reminded that the prices of commodities were affected by general sales tax on agricultural inputs imposed in the past.

The minister said due to less rains, Balochistan was facing a drought like situation and the federal government would take steps to help farmers in Balochistan.

However, he said under the 7th National Finance Commission Award, 57 percent of the resources collected by the federal government were given to the provinces, which also have to fulfill their constitutional obligations and tackle issues of the agriculture sector.

The minister said Chief Justice of Supreme Court only asked the government to consider removal of Names of persons from the Exit Control List (ECL). However, no written judgment of the apex court was so far received and a committee of the Interior Ministry would consider the issue.

He said the government did not refuse to remove name of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari from ECL but the matter should not be settled in haste.

The opposition should play its role for smooth functioning of the Parliament, he said adding the government needed cooperation of the opposition to run the house.

Traditions and rules of the house should be followed and the government would accept thedemocratic and parliamentary rights of the opposition, he noted. The minister said it would be dangerous not to follow the parliamentary norms.