In a pivotal step toward enhancing national food security, the Government of Pakistan and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations have reaffirmed their commitment to joint efforts aimed at improving access to affordable and nutritious food for all citizens.
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, held a meeting with Mr. David Labored, Director of Agri-Food at FAO, to discuss ongoing and future collaborative initiatives. Both parties expressed strong resolve to address food insecurity and agricultural challenges facing the country.
“Access to sufficient and quality food is a fundamental right of every citizen,” stated Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain. He highlighted that the quality of Pakistan’s agricultural products continues to improve and reiterated the government’s priority to reduce taxes on essential food items to ease the burden on consumers. “There should be no tax on basic food products,” he added, pointing to efforts aimed at curbing food inflation and ensuring affordability.
Mr. Labored acknowledged these initiatives, noting the impact of global and local inflation on food accessibility. “Due to rising prices, fruits have become out of reach for many people,” he remarked. He emphasized FAO’s role in monitoring food security worldwide and expressed the organization’s ongoing support for Pakistan’s efforts.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen cooperation in the agriculture and food sectors, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that no one in Pakistan goes hungry.