ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed its interest in expanding cooperation with Canada in food security, agricultural modernisation, and economic development.
Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain said this during a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Tarik Ali Khan in Islamabad on Friday, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.
The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral collaboration in agriculture, livestock development, agri-business investment, and trade.
The minister acknowledged Canada’s long-standing support for Pakistan in sustainable agriculture, livestock management, food production, and agri-innovation, noting that Canada remains one of Pakistan’s key agricultural partners.
Pakistan is keen to expand cooperation with Canada in food security, agricultural modernization and economic growth: @RTanveerPMLN @PakinCanada_ @CanHCPakistan #RadioPakistan #news 🇵🇰🤝🇨🇦https://t.co/92sRGseph5 pic.twitter.com/NgNfwLXf7m
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) June 19, 2026
He highlighted that Pakistan currently spends around US$4–5 billion annually on edible oil imports and is working to increase domestic oilseed production to reduce reliance on imports.
Rana Tanveer Hussain also pointed to Pakistan’s potential as an exporter of agricultural products such as mangoes, rice, kinnow, dates, and halal meat.
He proposed joint initiatives in areas including hybrid seed research, livestock breed improvement, embryo transfer technology, feed formulation, farm mechanisation, dairy and meat processing, packaging technologies, and agricultural value chains.
The minister further called for Canadian technical assistance in capacity building, animal health information systems, import risk assessment, and disease control programmes.
Canadian High Commissioner Tarik Ali Khan reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Pakistan in agriculture and agribusiness.
