The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has made significant strides in the agricultural sector over the past year, fulfilling its mandate and achieving notable milestones.
As part of its Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI), SIFC established Lamz, which introduced innovative irrigation methods such as modular drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, and pivot irrigation to enhance water use efficiency and promote sustainable agriculture.
Lamz also launched a website and mobile application to provide farmers with vital information on climate change, satellite crop monitoring, and the optimal use of water, fertilizers, and sprays. Additionally, Lamz identified 4.4 million acres of barren land for potential conversion into fertile agricultural land.
Through a business-to-business (B2B) model, Lamz partnered with seven foreign and 85 local investors, covering 600,000 acres and significantly transforming the agricultural landscape.
Under the Government-to-Government (G2G) model, Limz promoted the Mangroves restoration project in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates for wastewater treatment and with Kuwait for the Investment Corporation.
The government has improved seed certification by reducing the seed trial period from two years to one year and is drafting a national seed policy.
It is also developing a Management Information System (MIS) for seed track and trace, including seed certification, crop inspection, seed sampling, and checks. The establishment of the Complaints Management System (CMS) and the finalization of the National Seed Authority (NSA) underscore the government's commitment to modernizing seed practices.
Private partnerships have established Agriculture Malls to provide farmers with essential resources such as quality seeds, fertilizers, and modern agricultural machinery under one roof, thereby increasing efficiency. Under the Green Corporate and Livestock Initiative (GCLI), Pakistan received its first consignment of high-breed cattle from Brazil, including nine breeds.
By implementing these policies, SIFC has achieved significant progress in the agricultural sector within a year, surpassing expectations.
