Agriculture sector in Pakistan

Pakistan is a developing country and agriculture is its backbone. Over 70 per cent of the population in this country is living in the rural areas and associated mainly with agriculture activities. Since the establishment of Pakistan in 1947, the contribution of agriculture in countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been declined from 54 per cent to 24.6 per cent, reflecting the inadequacies related to the existing policies and/or the implementation of these policies in the agriculture sector. Pakistan has a large proportion of soils which is unsuitable for agricultural practices and only 21.2 per cent land is under cultivation. The major factors attributed to effect the land-use include soil salinity and sodicity; water logging, and soil contamination with heavy metals and metalloids, which are thought to have a drastic affect on crop yield and quality; the contaminants are also posing health risks to the environment. Soil is a relevant route for all these aspects, hence choosing soil science as the major subject for my career could be the best choice to offer my contribution in the agriculture sector of Pakistan. World largest contiguous irrigation system, which Pakistan now inherits was started by the British around middle of the 19th century. After independence extensive development took place in irrigation system of the country. At present Pakistan have three major reservoirs (Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma), 23 barrages/head works/syphons, 12 interriver link and 45 canal commands extending for about 38,000 miles to serve over 90,000 water courses. Rainfall in this area is seasonal and generally varies from 50-900 mm with an annual average of 250 mm. Therefore, our farming is based mainly on the quantum of heavy irrigation carried out from canals, originating from the Indus river due to short and insufficient rainy season and a long dry summer in the plains. About 75 % of land is cultivated through irrigation water. While, nearly 25 % of land is cultivated through tube-wells, ponds and rain water. Agriculture accounting for 30 per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and keeping employed 55 per cent of its labour force, is rated as the most vital sector in the countrys economy. The major agricultural problems in Pakistan are: The contamination of agricultural land is increasing by irrigation with the sewage water that contains toxic metals; application of pesticides and herbicides. This is affecting the environment in two ways: (i) reducing the area under cultivation, (ii) generating health problems by entering contaminants in the human food chain.

Also, lack of modern knowledge in agriculture sector; conforming to conventional approaches; resistance to adopting a change; negligible practical role of Govt Extension Organizations.

SUGGESSION FOR IMPROVEMENT

The agrarian situations relating to Pakistan dealt above generally holds good for future planning. The country has countess, small and marginal farmers, in whose farm, the productivity is very low. Science and technology must be suited to this peculiar situation of the country. There are wide gaps both in yields obtained against the potential and technology transfer is very weak. The concerns of environmental protection, sustainability, employment, equity, energy, profitability and exports have become important. At present, the idea of economic reform process, competitiveness, efficiency and quality factors of agricultural production and export have assumed critical significance threatened loss of biodiversity, climatic change, burgeoning population are yet another major issues confronting the country. Further, declining real investment in agriculture especially agricultural research posses a real challenge to increase productivity in agriculture. There should be a comprehensive planning to boost up the crop productivity with honest and devotion; this problem can easily be overcome in the long run.

INDUSTRIAL SECTOR OF PAKISTAN

Pakistan ranks forty-first in the world and fifty-fifth worldwide in factory output. Pakistan's industrial sector accounts for about 24% of GDP. Cotton textile production and apparel manufacturing are Pakistan's largest industries, accounting for about 66% of the merchandise exports and almost 40% of the employed labour force. Cotton and cotton-based products account for 61% of export earnings of Pakistan. The consumption of cotton increased by 5.7% over the past five years while the economic growth rate was 7%. All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) predicts that by 2010 the spinning capacity is expected to increase to 15 million spindles and textile exports hit 15.5$ billion. Other major industries include cement, fertilizer, edible oil, sugar, steel, tobacco, chemicals, machinery and food processing. The government is privatizing large-scale parastatal units, and the public sector accounts for a shrinking proportion of industrial output, while growth in overall industrial output (including the private sector) has accelerated. Government policies aim to diversify the country's industrial base and bolster export industries. Mining and quarrying The country has immense reserves of various minerals and natural resources. Important minerals found in Pakistan are gypsum, limestone, chromites, iron ore, rock salt, silver, gold, precious stones, gems, marble, copper, coal, graphite, sulphur, fire clay, silica. The salt range in Punjab Province has the largest deposit of pure salt found anywhere in the world. Balochistan province is a mineral rich area having substantial mineral, oil and gas reserves which have not been exploited to their full capacity or fully explored, recent government policies have begun to develop this region of the country and to tap into the immense resources found there. The province has significant quantities of copper, chromite and iron, and pockets of antimony and

zinc in the south and gold in the far west. Natural gas was discovered near Sui in 1952, and the province has been gradually developing its oil and gas projects over the past fifty years. Major reserves of copper and gold in Balochistan's Reko Diq area have been discovered in early 2006. The Reko Diq mining area has proven estimated reserves of 2 billion tons of copper and 20 million ounces of gold. According to the current market price, the value of the deposits has been estimated at about $65 billion, which would generate thousands of jobs. The discovery has ranked Rekodiq among the world's top seven copper reserves. The Rekodiq project is estimated to produce 200,000 tons of copper and 400,000 ounces of gold per year, at an estimated value of $1.25 billion at current market prices. The copper and gold are currently traded at about $5,000 per ton and $600 per ounce respectively in the international market. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province accounts for at least 78% of the marble production in Pakistan. Pakistan is home to some of the most finest and purest grades of marble, granite and slate found in the world. Much of the grades A Marble that is exported out of European countries like Italy actually have their origins in Pakistan which previously lacked fine polishing and processing machinery. The Government has taken steps to invest in this crucial sector with the recent establishment of a Marble City within Balochistan. The Federal Bureau of Statistics provisionally valued this sector at Rs.211,851 million in 2005 thus registering over 99% growth since 2000.

Fuel extraction industry Pakistan's first oil field was discovered in the late 1952 in Baluchistan near a giant gas field at Sui in Balochistan. The Toot oilfield was discovered in the early 1960s the Islamabad in the Punjab. Production has steadily increased since then. Pakistan's first gas field was the giant gas field at Sui in Balochistan which was discovered in the late 1952. Pakistan is also a major producer of Bituminous coal, Sub-bituminous coal and Lignite. Coal mining started in the British colonial era and has continued to be used by Pakistani industries after independence in 1947. Pakistan produced about 45 tonnes of Uranium in 2006.

Manufacturing In FY 2002-03, real growth in manufacturing was 7.7%. In the twelve months ending 30 June 2004, large-scale manufacturing grew by more than 18% compared to the previous twelve-month period. The textile and garment industry's share in the economy along with its contribution to exports, employment, foreign-exchange earnings, investment and value added make it Pakistans single largest manufacturing sector. The industry comprises 453 textile mills: 50 integrated units; and 403 spinning units, with 9.33 million spindles and 148,000 rotors, The capacity utilization was 83% for spindles and 47% for rotors during 2003. The Federal Bureau of Statistics provisionally valued large-scale manufacturing at Rs.981,518 million in 2005 thus registering over 138% growth since 2000 while small-scale manufacturing was valued at Rs.356,835 million in 2005 thus registering over 80% growth since 2000.

Construction After the devastating 2005 Kashmir earthquake Pakistan has instituted stricter building codes. The cost of construction in Pakistan will increase 30 to 50% due to implementation of a new building code which requires strengthening of structures to withstand earthquake of 8 to 8.5 magnitude. The demand for cement has increased due to reconstruction after the earthquake. The price of cement has increased by 50% and Pakistan government banned export of cement to lower the prices and the reconstruction costs. Dubai Ports World, announced on June 1, 2006 that it will spend $10 billion to develop transport infrastructure and real estate in Pakistan. Dubai Ports World is also discussing the possibility of the company taking over operational management of Gwadar port in Balochistan. Emaar Properties, announced on May 31, 2006 three real estate developments in the cities of Islamabad and Karachi in Pakistan. The projects, with a total investment of $2.4 billion, will include a series of master planned communities that will set new benchmarks in commercial, residential and retail property within Pakistan. In addition the conglomerate signed an unprecedented $43 billion deal to develop two island resorts - Bundal Island and Buddo Island - over the next decade. The Federal Bureau of Statistics provisionally valued this sector at Rs.178,819 million in 2005 thus registering over 88% growth since 2000.

Electricity,gas and water supply Pakistan has extensive energy resources, including fairly sizable natural gas reserves, some proven oil reserves, coal (Pakistan has the fourth-largest coal reserves in the world, and a large hydropower potential. However, the exploitation of energy resources has been slow due to a shortage of capital and domestic political constraints. Domestic petroleum production totals only about half the country's oil needs, and the need to import oil has contributed to Pakistan's trade deficits and past shortages of foreign exchange. The current government has announced that privatization in the oil and gas sector is a priority, as is the substitution of indigenous gas for imported oil, especially in the production of power. Pakistan is a world leader in the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) for personal automobiles. The short-term national energy demand has expanded significantly since 2001 due to massive rise in sales of durable goods like refrigerators, washing machines, split air conditioners. In 2004, Access Group International announced plans to invest $1 billion over the next 5 years in solar cell manufacture and wind farms. MOUs have been signed with Alternate Energy Development Board. [15] In early 2005, the government approved a 25-year Energy Security Plan to boost electric capacity eightfold. The Canadian conglomerate Cathy Oil and Gas signed a memorandum of understanding in late 2006 to invest $5 billion in oil and gas exploration, development, production and commercialization in Pakistan.

The World Bank estimates that it takes about 32 days only to get an electrical connection in Pakistan. The Federal Bureau of Statistics provisionally valued this sector at Rs.215,662 million in 2005 thus registering over 62% growth since 2000.

Important sector for me I will definitely go with the industrial sector because Pakistan ranks forty-first in the world and fifty-fifth worldwide in factory output. Pakistan's industrial sector accounts for about 24% of GDP. Industrial sector is a sector from which we can generate lots of foreign currency. We can increase our GDP as much as we can. There is just one need to do this and that need is to utilize all resources. Because of uncertainty of our country Govt. condition we are not using our resources. There is just one need of improvement and that need is to promise every person by himself that he will do work by honesty. Our country will definitely grow a lot. Our Economy will definitely develop. We will be develop country. We can be Asian tiger soon. Pakistan is very rich of natural resources. There is one need and that is just to utilize all these resources for the interest of the country.

SUGGESSION FOR IMPROVEMENT As previously discussed that Pakistan rank forty-first in the world and fifty-fifth worldwide in factory output. Pakistan's industrial sector accounts for about 24% of GDP. Cotton textile production and apparel manufacturing are Pakistan's largest industries, accounting for about 66% of the merchandise exports and almost 40% of the employed labour force. Cotton and cottonbased products account for 61% of export earnings of Pakistan. The consumption of cotton increased by 5.7% over the past five years while the economic growth rate was 7%. All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) predicts that by 2010 the spinning capacity is expected to increase to 15 million spindles and textile exports hit 15.5$ billion. Other major industries include cement, fertilizer, edible oil, sugar, steel, tobacco, chemicals, machinery and food processing. The Govt. should play a good role for the improvement of this industry. Govt. should make supporting policies for this sector. We should proper utilize our all resources. We should do all works by own self, Pakistan shouldnt give license to different other countries to come and work here.