Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that providing farmers with affordable fertilizers, quality seeds, modern machinery and equipment, and technical expertise for efficient water use is the government's top priority.

He was chairing the first meeting of the National Agriculture and Food Security Council in Islamabad today.

The Prime Minister said that agriculture is the backbone of the country's economy and has the potential to put Pakistan on the path to economic growth in a short period.

He emphasised that ensuring fair prices for crops, particularly for small and medium-sized farmers, is a top priority of the government.

He said that the federal government would extend all possible cooperation to the provinces for the development of the agricultural sector.

Shehbaz Sharif said that the livestock sector also holds significant potential for increasing national exports. He added that the government is taking measures to enhance Pakistan's halal meat exports.

The Prime Minister appreciated the initiatives being undertaken by the Chief Minister of Punjab for farmers' welfare, including aquaculture, shrimp farming and direct subsidies through the Kisan Card.

He also commended the Chief Minister of Sindh for his efforts to promote farmers' welfare and provide them with necessary facilities.

Discussing wheat supply and pricing, the Prime Minister said that sufficient stocks of wheat are available to meet the country's requirements. He made it clear that no leniency would be shown to those involved in hoarding wheat.

The Prime Minister stressed that the wheat price should be determined before the start of the sowing season to ensure that farmers receive a fair return for their hard work.

He said that the government aims to ensure fair prices for farmers while keeping wheat affordable for consumers.

Shehbaz Sharif said that the decision on wheat pricing would be taken in consultation with the provinces, and the price would be announced soon after the consultations are completed.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister of Punjab and the Sindh Minister for Food highlighted the measures being taken by their respective provincial governments for farmers' development.

The meeting was also briefed on initiatives to promote agriculture in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.