Pakistan is facing Food Scarcity which is becoming a great challenge in near future. This threat is arising due to several challenges being faced by Pakistan’s agriculture in recent years, including low private investment, lack of access to modern technology and inputs, and limited access to markets. These challenges are the major factors to slow down the growth of agriculture sector.

To mitigate these challenges and to find out a way forward, FAO & Government of Pakistan in collaboration with International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) organized one-day Agriculture Investment Symposium at Marriot Hotel, Islamabad. The event aimed to support private investments in the agriculture sector, in line with government vision, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Pakistan’s Environment and Climate Change Recovery Strategy. The specific objectives of the Symposium were to:

• provide a platform to partners to present key information on investment opportunities, supporting Pakistan’s priorities and focusing on growth potential of the agriculture sector, including through digital technologies; and
• facilitate matchmaking to mobilize private sector investment around key commodities.

Agriculture industry leaders, financial experts, and potential investors gathered under the umbrella of this event and discussed the latest trends and opportunities in the agriculture sector investment. The partners discussed mainly, the cluster based development; leveraging digitalization; adapting to climate change which followed by a booth fair and Business to Business meetings.

A number of stakeholders from government, development agencies, private sector and progressive farmers participated in this symposium.

PATCO was also invited to participate in the event. PATCO introduced / presented its business strategies, technologies and other interventions, being offered in Agriculture Sector of Pakistan. PATCO’s presentation remained center of eyes of the participants and was highly appreciated.

CEO PATCO, Dr. Mansab Ali overview of PATCO’s vision, its activities and achievements, to honourable Minister Planning Development & Special Initiatives, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal and other participants of the symposium. PATCO’s vision and its activities in the Agriculture sector were highly appreciated by the participants. PATCO was welcomed to take part in the effort of the event management, to mitigate the challenges being faced by the Pakistan Agriculture Sector.