NOT TO BE PUBLISHED BROADCAST OR TELECAST BEFORE THE MORNING OF 16th October, 2017
The World Food Day that is being observed today worldwide
with the theme “Change the Future of Migration: Invest in Food Security and
Rural Development” renews our obligation to join hands with the
international community, civil society organizations and the private sector to
ensure global food security and eradicate hunger. I am pleased to learn that
the Ministry of National Food Security & Research (NFS&R) and Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with other UN agencies and
partner organizations are celebrating the Day to highlight the significance of
achieving self-sufficiency in food grains.
The theme
of the Day envisions the adoption of a multidimensional approach for investing
in food security and uplifting the rural livelihoods to control the migration
patterns in the rural areas. This theme is very relevant in the current global
scenario, where besides migration from rural to urban areas, the phenomenon of
internally displaced persons (IDPs) within the country is also adversely
affecting agricultural sustainability. Mass migrations across the borders are
also creating imbalances in the supply and demand for the means of livelihood
particularly food and water, thus creating new challenges in the delivery of
services like shelter, hygiene and health. UN has to play a crucial role to
assure that “Migration should be a choice, not a necessity” by squarely
addressing the factors that create an inducement for migration.
It is
heartening to note that Pakistan has made significant progress in food
production over the last seventy years as it has witnessed considerable
increase in the production of wheat and rice. The present Government is also
focusing on the sustainable development of agriculture sector and in this
regard has taken a number of measures for welfare of the farming community.
Pakistan is now not only self-sufficient in both these food grains but it has
also become an exporter of these commodities. Nevertheless, there is a need to
diversify our cropping patterns to focus on other elements of the food basket
like pulses, vegetables and oilseeds.
Food
Security, in the context of population growth, is a major concern and millions
of humans around the globe are in constant need of food and shelter. This is
particularly true for Pakistan as it has been working in close coordination
with UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in managing the Afghan refugees.
Pakistan is
committed to achieve food security and alleviate poverty in line with the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Appropriate strategies need to be devised
to improve food security to offset the adverse impact of rural and cross border
migration. Furthermore, a number of measures are being undertaken by the
Government of Pakistan to address the issue of food insecurity as envisioned in
Vision-2025.
I am
confident that food security will continue to be one of the priority areas for
our future public and private investments to achieve self-sufficiency and rural
development. Let us once again renew our determination to ensure food
availability for our people and to initiate interventions to overcome the
future challenges.
Pakistan Zindabad!
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
BROADCAST OR TELECAST BEFORE THE MORNING OF 16th October, 2017
