Rana Tanveer Calls For Climate Support As Pakistan's Agriculture Faces Floods, Drought

The food security minister said Pakistan contributes about 0.2 percent of global emissions but remains highly vulnerable, urging developed countries to honour Paris Agreement commitments and provide financial and technical assistance. ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Nov, 2026) Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain on Thursday called on developed countries to honour their climate commitments and extend financial and technical support to Pakistan, saying the country contributes minimally to global emissions but remains among the nations most severely affected by climate change. Talking to media after after visiting agriculture exhibition, which was organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on the occasion of its 29th Sustainable Development Conference, the minister said that Pakistan's agriculture sector was bearing the brunt of climate change through devastating floods, droughts, rising temperatures and changing weather patterns, which had adversely affected crop production across the country. Pakistan's contribution to global emissions was around 0.2 percent, while industrialized countries had historically contributed a much larger share, he said adding that the Pakistan is not responsible for the climate crisis, but it is among the most affected countries. Rana Tanveer Hussain urged the developed nations to fulfill their commitments under the Paris Agreement and provide the promised assistance to vulnerable countries. He said Pakistan continued to raise the issue at international forums, adding that the Ministry of Climate Change was highlighting the country's concerns at every available opportunity. He expressed hope that the international community would take Pakistan's challenges into account at the upcoming climate discussions in Turkey and extend support for climate-related projects. Appreciating private-sector initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the minister cited efforts by commercial enterprises in the livestock and dairy sectors, saying some companies had made significant progress in reducing their environmental footprint. He also stressed the need for greater cooperation between the government and corporate sector to improve agricultural productivity, food processing and exports. Responding to a question about mango orchards and other fruit-producing sectors, Hussain said Pakistan's mangoes were already recognized internationally for their quality, but greater attention was needed to commercial exports, packaging, certification and value addition. He said substantial quantities of agricultural produce, including citrus fruits, dates and other fruits, were wasted due to inadequate processing and post-harvest facilities. The minister called for investment in processing and packaging infrastructure to reduce losses and enhance the international competitiveness of Pakistani agricultural products. He noted that Pakistani dates were sometimes transported to Iran for packaging before being exported, highlighting the need to develop domestic facilities. Emphasizing the importance of food security, Hussain said Pakistan, with a population of around 260 million, was successfully meeting its food requirements and exporting surplus agricultural commodities. On sugar exports, he said the government had allowed additional exports following a surplus in domestic production, adding that the country's sugar reserves had been assessed against domestic consumption requirements. He expressed hope that sugarcane crushing would begin on November 15, as scheduled, despite delays often caused by sugar mills and industry representatives. The minister said the government could consider allowing further sugar exports once the new crushing season began and production levels became clearer. Regarding wheat prices, Hussain said market indicators suggested that wheat and flour prices had declined following the government's decision to import the commodity. He expressed optimism about the next wheat season, saying the government's decision to set the wheat support price at Rs4,500 per 40 kilogrammes had encouraged farmers to expand cultivation. He said the support price represented a significant increase from the previous rate of Rs3,500 per 40 kilogrammes and had improved farmers' expectations about returns. He said that increased demand for wheat seeds and reports of shortages in their availability indicated that farmers were preparing to bring more land under wheat cultivation and invest in additional agricultural inputs. The Food Security Minister expressed confidence that Pakistan would achieve a wheat surplus in the next season and potentially resume exports. He said the government's focus remained on strengthening food security, supporting farmers, improving agricultural productivity and reducing post-harvest losses while addressing the growing challenges posed by climate change.