ISLAMABAD, October 22 — Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has stressed the need to control population growth, promote organic farming and reduce excessive chemical use in agriculture to strengthen food security and improve public welfare.
Responding to a question during the National Assembly’s question hour regarding pesticide use, the minister said Pakistan’s land area remained unchanged while its population continued to grow rapidly, increasing pressure on food production and the distribution of available resources.
He said managing population growth was essential to improving access to food and other basic necessities and raising people’s living standards.
The minister also emphasised the importance of producing safe and quality food through organic farming and reducing the excessive use of agricultural chemicals. He said these measures could contribute to a healthier food supply.
Different Security Challenges in KP and Balochistan
Responding to a separate question about the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, Chaudhry said both provinces were equally important to the federal government but faced different circumstances in tackling terrorism.
He said the Balochistan government was cooperating with the federal government and security institutions in operations against terrorists.
However, he expressed concern over the KP leadership’s approach to cooperation with security institutions, arguing that the two provinces should be assessed separately because of their differing approaches to counterterrorism.
Roti Prices Vary by Weight and Region
Replying to a question about the price of roti, the minister said rates varied across Punjab, Islamabad and other areas, depending on the prescribed weight of the bread.
He said the applicable prices could be determined according to the specified weight and the relevant local market.
