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       ISLAMABAD: The government will provide every facility imaginable to information technology companies so that they meet the export target of $25 billion, the prime minister said on Monday.

       Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed these views during a meeting with a four-member delegation from the United States. It was led by Jerome Kapelus, the CEO of IT company Afiniti, a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said.

       The prime minister welcomed Afiniti’s interest in making investment in Pakistan’s IT sector and suggested that the firm set up a world-class call centre in the country for its clients.

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       He informed the delegation that he was himself overseeing programmes to equip the country’s talented youth with IT, AI, and other advanced technical skills.

       PM meets delegation from AI firm Afiniti; chairs meeting on food security

       IT minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and senior officials from ministries and divisions concerned attended the meeting.

       The delegation appreciated the expertise of Pakistan’s IT professionals and their dedication to the sector’s development.

       Jerome Kapelus said Pakistan’s IT sector was highly suitable for investment and more than 1,000 highly skilled professionals were working at Afiniti Pakistan.

       He further said Pakistani youth possessed immense potential to contribute to the IT sector, adding Afiniti’s success in the region was due to Pakistan’s well-trained workforce.

       Food security

       Chairing a meeting on matters related to the Ministry of National Food Security, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government was committed to providing all facilities to farmers to boost agricultural production.

       Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting on matters related to the Ministry of National Food Security in Islamabad on March 17, 2025. — PID

       The prime minister said young agricultural researchers from across the country should be engaged for advancement of the agriculture sector.

       He ordered strict and swift action against companies involved in the business of substandard agricultural seeds.

       PM Shehbaz said the production of edible oil should be increased to save foreign exchange spent on its imports.

       He said the promotion of farm mechanisation across the country should be ensured in collaboration with provincial governments, the private sector, and other stakeholders.

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       Regarding fruit and vegetable production, the prime minister stressed youth training for value addition and provision of loans on easy terms.

       He ordered the swift resolution of all issues related to the dissolution of Pakistan Agriculture Supplies and Storage Corporation (Passco).

       The PM expressed satisfaction with the development of a strategy to digitise the entire supply chain for agricultural exports - from farms to ports.

       The meeting was informed the establishment of an authority to oversee agricultural trade and food safety was in its final stages.

       A laboratory for testing agricultural commodities has been established at Karachi University’s HEJ Centre.

       The meeting was apprised that a ministerial forum on agriculture has been formed to ensure coordination between the federal and provincial governments.

       Drafts of national policies related to seeds, agricultural biotechnology, and organic food are in various stages of approval.

       Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2025