Islamabad, 27 September 2023 (TDI): Florence Rolle, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Pakistan called on Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, Dr Kausar Abdulla Malik at Islamabad.

Dr. Kausar Malik while welcoming Florence Rolle highlighted the longstanding partnership between the Government of Pakistan and the FAO of the United Nations, which spans from 7 September 1947 and appreciated FAO assistance in ensuring food security and agriculture production in Pakistan.

Dr Kausar Malik said that the prevailing collaboration between FAO and Pakistan to end hunger and achieve sustainable agriculture yield is very much satisfactory.

He emphasized the importance of agriculture and the role of FAO in bolstering the agriculture sector of the country.

He sought support from FAO to enhance the assistance in capacity building of Pakistani experts in the fields of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.

FAO may provide training opportunities specifically for the staff of the Ministry of National Food Security & Research and provincial governments to understand the wider concepts of food security.

He also sought support on bringing improvement in the beef sector as well as in the Food & Mouth Disease (FMD) management strategy.

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Florence Rolle shared FAO’s ongoing commitment to work with the Government of Pakistan, at the national as well as provincial levels, to provide technical and policy support to bring innovation, transformation and digitization to the agriculture sector and the food systems, and to reduce malnutrition.

She offered to support the Ministry of National Food Security & Research in restructuring the Ministry to bring it in line with modern international standards for better service delivery in the agriculture sector.

She agreed to support the Ministry in improving the yield of Soybeans in the country to meet growing indigenous needs.

She informed that FAO is already working in FMD and very soon strategies will be shared with the Ministry of National Food Security & Research for implementation.