The new five year Country Programming Framework jointly developed by FAO and the Government of Pakistan sets out three common development priorities; Zero Hunger, Climate Smart resilient agriculture and sustainable ecosystems including forests, fisheries, Livestock and water management and inclusive and efficient agriculture & food system. The signing ceremony of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) country programming framework (2018-2022) held in Islamabad today. Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan and FAO representative to Pakistan Ms. Mina Dowlatchahi formally launched the CPF and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) control project. Federal Minister Mehboob Sultan said that the collaboration of FAO and GoP has positive historical trajectory. Pakistan has been the member of FAO since September 1947. FAO supported Pakistan in food security and agriculture and we are moving towards achieving greater goals. At the occasion in collaboration with FAO the Federal Minister launched the Federal Government’s funded project of “Control of Foot and Mouth Disease in Pakistan”. The estimated cost of the project is PKR 763 million through Public Sector Development Program (PSDP). Federal Minister Mehboob Sultan expressed immense pleasure on the project of curtailing the economically drastic disease (FMD). Estimated Annual loss is USD 692 million in terms of reduced milk production, mortality in calves and loss in body condition and treatment cost. “FMD does not kill the animal, it kills the farmer”, said the Minister. It restricts the potential exports of dairy and meat. Mehboob Sultan said the FMD initiative is built on six year experience of this ministry, working with close collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nation on various projects. It is very encouraging to note that this (FMD) control project will address five essential components for the control of this disease and will strengthen the diagnosis in selected laboratories in all provinces and administration units of the country. Federal Minister further said that we intend to develop a model animal health legal framework both at federal and provincial level to address Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary (SPS) issues and modernizing import and export regime. The Minister said that the FMD Project will have unique implementation mechanism as this will be implemented in collaboration with FAO and provincial governments. Sahibzada Mehboob reiterated that our Government is committed to take all possible measures for the development of agriculture and livestock sector in the country and the partnership with FAOs will lead us towards the achievement of our set goals of hunger control and food security through sustainable agriculture in Pakistan. FAO representative to Pakistan Ms. Mina Dowlatchahi said that CPF will mark another five years with Pakistan and we are here to serve for the betterment of the people of Pakistan and we take into account the matters like climate and value chain. We are aligned to sustainable development goals. She further said that implementation of CPF will contribute to the achievement of no poverty, zero hunger, food security & improved nutrition, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land and partnership for the goals. On FMD project, Ms. Dowlatchahi further said that after the successful completion of the FMD Project Pakistan will reach to zone 3 and we are committed to make Pakistan FMD free zone. We will collaborate until the disease is eradicated. Federal Minister Mehboob Sultan appreciated the efforts of the Ministry and FAO for making this possible and resolved to work hard to make it successful and expressed his gratitude to FAO representative to Pakistan Ms. Mina Dowlatchahi for her efforts and cooperation.
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