The assumption that ‘Pakistan is an agricultural economy’ is largely acknowledged because the agriculture sector of Pakistan still employs 39 percent of the entire labor force and contributes a substantial 22 percent share to the national GDP. Even though more than 60% of the population is dependent on agriculture, either directly or indirectly, agriculture productivity is low in comparison to other global economies. Pakistan is one of the nations threatened by food insecurity, ranking 99th out of 121 on the Global Hunger Index 2022. Similarly, ‘Pakistan boasts one of the greatest irrigation network systems in Asia,’ is another often promoted yet unproven claim.
In contrast, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Pakistan is one of the world’s thirty-six water-stressed countries. As a result, these claims require a fair assessment and reconsideration considering existing data and ground reality, as well as a study of measures and the development of action plans to make these assertions true. Read Full Op-Ed
I appreciate the actionable tips.