ISLAMABAD, JUL 30 (DNA) – Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan has said Pakistan was ready to have joint venture with Uzbekistan in agriculture sector.

He said this during meeting with Ambassador of the Uzbekistan Furqat Sidiqov who called Tuesday.

Federal Secretary Dr. Hashim Popalzai and other officials of the Ministry were also present.

Matters regarding upcoming Joint Inter-Governmental Commission (JIGC) and agriculture co-operation were discussed.

Federal Minister further said that Pakistan is an agrarian economy and current government is committed to uplift the farmers and bring agriculture revolution in the country.

The proposed agriculture cooperation areas between the two countries are quite expansive including market access to livestock products, exchange of technology in areas of wool and turkey farming.

Pakistan could assist Uzbek side in livestock feed technology, semen production, processing and preservation and disease diagnostics in livestock and their control.

Moreover, Joint ventures for crop improvement through conventional and biotechnological approaches.

Federal Minister Mehboob Sultan said that Pakistan will work with Uzbekistan in areas of mutual interests and will facilitate ease of business between two nations, as Uzbekistan and Pakistan have a large agro trade

The JIGC meeting is likely to be held in the last quarter of this year in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The Uzbek Ambassador suggested that before the JIGC, a joint working group me be formulated to finalize all the matters between two partners.

Moreover he said that Uzbekistan is keenly looking forward for a free trade agreement with Pakistan to facilitate the trade between the two countries and it would be a main agenda item of the JIGC.

The cooperation regarding cotton is very important; the exchange of elite germplasm/genetic resources of cotton is one of the major focuses.

Ambassador of Uzbekistan said “On behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan I express my deepest condolences on plane crash in Rawalpindi resulting loss of many lives and injuries. I pray for the souls of all victims and their families, as well as ask Almighty Allah for the earliest possible recovery of the injured persons. We stay with our Brotherly people of Pakistan in these sorrow moments”.=DNA

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