DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said if food crops production did not increase and the population explosion continued, the country might face famine and poverty in the years to come.
Addressing the Kissan Card distribution ceremony here, he highlighted the importance of making Pakistan self-sufficient in food crops, adding that it was necessary to ensure the country’s huge population keeps getting fed. He said that Pakistan’s already large population was growing at a rapid pace.
Expressing his concerns about the fast growing population in Pakistan, which had reached from less than 40 million in 1947 to around 220 million at present, he said the growth could be checked through enhanced education levels and primary healthcare facilities.
The prime minister said despite having much fertile lands and bumper wheat crops, the country had to import four million tons of wheat last year and was again expected to import the commodity this year.
He said as the country had to import basic commodities like ghee, pulses etc. to cater to the needs of growing population, there was a need to make plans to tackle such challenges. The prime minister also attributed enhanced import of commodities as one of the major causes of inflation and said the commodity prices had increased worldwide.