08-07-2010, 12:38 PM
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani economists have expressed apprehensions that the recent floods could create food shortage in the country which has to double its efforts for meeting growing needs of the growing population. According to Radio Mashaal, they advised that more barren land should be used for cultivation to control the possible shortage of food. Financial experts say that the ongoing terrorism has already had a very bad impact on the country’s economy and the recent floods have destroyed thousand acres of farmlands, which could cause shortage of food commodities in future. Experts claimed that the government was neglecting the development of agriculture sector while on the other hand smuggling of food items to Afghanistan has been one of the primary reasons behind this shortage. When financial and agriculture expert Dr Shahid Hasan Sadique was questioned about the issue of possible food shortage in Pakistan, he said “We are continuously warning the government that due to shortage of food items in future there will emerge a risk of possible anarchy in the country.” There are some reasons for this food shortage. According to the official estimates, the country has suffered a loss of $20 billion in the last two years due to the ongoing war against terrorism, which is almost Rs 90 billion per year that could affect supply of food items. Secondly, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is giving Pakistan loans with strings, for example to increase the electricity charges, gas bills and to stop tariff on some other facilities is also the biggest reason. The third reason is that the government is paying no attention to the development of agriculture sector. The population has also increased twenty four percent in the last ten years and agriculture product has increased only five percent. On the question that Pakistan is an agricultural country and has one of the best irrigation systems then why it was importing food items from other countries. There are also many other reasons behind it, one is water shortage to the farmer for cultivation, “our thousands of acres land is barren and this must be developed for cultivation, third reason is that big farmers are of the opinion that due to food shortage they will get more profit. If the government does not chalk out a comprehensive strategy for this issue on urgent basis, worst food crisis in likely in the country.