Pakistan wouldn't need foreign loans and pittances if its indigenous resources are properly harnessed, PML-Q central leader Moonis Elahi, said. While talking to a group of Punjab citrus farmers, Moonis said the PML-N step-motherly treatment towards agriculture sector is forcing farmers to sell land to real-estate developers.

Commenting on the country's current economic crisis, he said that Pakistan could turn into one of the richest nations of the world if its abundant natural and human resources were properly harnessed. He emphasized the emergent need of maximizing the country's agriculture growth potential to minimize poverty and to reduce reliance on foreign loans and pittances.

Citing the example of citrus yield in Pakistan, he said that according to the UN, Pakistan was the world's 10th largest citrus producer with an annual harvest of over 2.4 million tones but its citrus export was only a few hundred thousand tonnes.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017