Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, held a high-level meeting with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Pakistan, Alexandra Berg von Linde, to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in agriculture, food security, livestock, research, innovation and sustainable development. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to transforming the longstanding friendly relations between Pakistan and Sweden into a stronger and more practical partnership in the agricultural sector.
Welcoming the Ambassador, the Federal Minister said Pakistan highly values its cordial relations with Sweden and is keen to broaden bilateral engagement in agriculture and allied sectors. He observed that despite the excellent political relations between the two countries, cooperation in agriculture has remained limited and there is significant untapped potential for collaboration. He expressed confidence that stronger institutional linkages and regular engagement would open new avenues for mutually beneficial cooperation.
The Minister acknowledged Sweden's international reputation as a leader in sustainable agriculture, agricultural innovation, food safety, livestock development and climate-resilient farming. He appreciated Sweden's longstanding contributions to global development and capacity building, particularly through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), and welcomed greater opportunities for Pakistani professionals and institutions to benefit from Swedish expertise and training programmes.
Both sides discussed ways to strengthen institutional cooperation between relevant organizations of the two countries. The Minister proposed enhancing collaboration through research partnerships, exchange of technical delegations, academic cooperation and closer engagement between the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and leading Swedish institutions. He emphasized that such cooperation would facilitate the exchange of knowledge, modern technologies and best practices to support Pakistan's agricultural modernization.
The meeting also focused on strengthening cooperation in food security and food safety. Both sides discussed the importance of improving food quality standards, promoting safe food processing practices and encouraging modern technologies that reduce food losses and improve value addition. The Minister welcomed greater Swedish collaboration in these areas to support Pakistan's efforts to strengthen its agricultural value chains and enhance export competitiveness.
The Federal Minister highlighted Pakistan's commitment to modernizing its agriculture through innovation, sustainability and private-sector participation. He invited Swedish companies to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan's agriculture, food processing, dairy, post-harvest management and value-added sectors, noting that such partnerships would contribute to economic growth, employment generation and enhanced agricultural exports.
Livestock development also featured prominently in the discussions. Both sides agreed on the importance of strengthening cooperation in animal health, dairy development, food safety and sustainable livestock production. They emphasized that closer collaboration in these areas would contribute to improved productivity, rural livelihoods and national food security.
A key area of discussion was antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The Swedish Ambassador formally encouraged the Federal Minister to seek membership in the Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in recognition of Pakistan's ongoing efforts to address this growing global challenge. She noted that Pakistan's participation would strengthen the representation of the Eastern Mediterranean Region on the international platform.
The Federal Minister welcomed the proposal and confirmed that Pakistan would initiate the necessary process for nomination and pursue active participation in the Global Leaders Group. He noted that the Ministry of National Food Security and Research is working closely with the Ministries of National Health Services and Climate Change to implement a coordinated national response to antimicrobial resistance.
Both sides reaffirmed the importance of the One Health approach, recognizing that antimicrobial resistance affects human health, animal health and the environment alike. They also exchanged views on the responsible use of antibiotics, public awareness and the importance of strengthening regulatory frameworks to safeguard public health and food systems.
The Ambassador highlighted the positive contribution of Swedish companies operating in Pakistan, particularly in food processing, dairy packaging and sustainable textile production. Both sides agreed that the experience of these companies provides a strong foundation for expanding broader economic and agricultural cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen Pakistan–Sweden cooperation through sustained dialogue, stronger institutional partnerships, increased investment, research collaboration and the exchange of expertise. Both sides expressed confidence that enhanced cooperation would contribute to agricultural modernization, food security, innovation, sustainable development and stronger bilateral relations between Pakistan and Sweden.
