Preparations for the Agro-Food and Peace Conference, in collaboration with the Sindh Abadgar Forum and Karachi University, are complete. The conference will discuss the crucial link between law and order and agricultural development, with top security officials, government ministers, and farmer leaders participating to address insecurity as a fundamental obstacle to the sector’s growth.
Sindh Abadgar Forum Chairman Muhammad Afzal Arain said on Tuesday that the primary objective of the conference is to promote modern agricultural technology, increase crop yields on a scientific basis, stabilize the agricultural economy, and highlight the need for sustainable peace for the sector’s development. Speakers include Inspector General Sindh Javed Alam Odho, Director General NAB Shakeel Ahmed Durrani, and senior officers from the Police, Rangers, and Coast Guard. They will be joined by provincial ministers Muhammad Ismail Rahu, Ali Hassan Zardari, and Syed Nasir Hussain Shah Rizvi, as well as Saylani Welfare Trust Chairman Muhammad Bashir Farooqi.
Expertise from the academic and financial sectors will be provided by University of Karachi Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, representatives from the State Bank of Pakistan and other commercial banks, and heads and experts from various university departments ranging from botany to marine sciences.
In preparation for the conference, a delegation from the Sindh Abadgar Forum, led by Chairman Muhammad Afzal Arain, conducted a detailed tour of Karachi, Badin, Sujawal, Thatta, Tando Muhammad Khan, and other districts to deliver invitations and finalize details.
These efforts included important meetings with Provincial Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and university officials. A high-level discussion was also held with the State Bank of Pakistan and various commercial banks, focusing on the financial challenges faced by farmers, the need for easy agricultural loans, reducing farming costs, and practical solutions for increasing yields.
Mr. Arain emphasized that the conference will give special attention to the principle that a secure environment is as crucial as technology and resources. He stated that insecurity and uncertainty create serious obstacles for farmers, investors, and agricultural enterprises.
He stressed that law and order is the foundation upon which a strong agricultural economy, national food security, and rural prosperity can be built.
The conference is expected to present actionable recommendations for strengthening the agricultural economy through a combination of modern farming practices, farmer-friendly policy reforms, and a strong commitment to law and order, which organizers are calling a significant milestone for the future of agriculture in Sindh and all of Pakistan.