ISLAMABAD: A Saudi Arabia-backed irrigation partnership with Pakistan has helped increase yields of wheat, fodder and other crops in the South Asian country, Pakistani and Saudi officials said on Thursday, amid efforts by both sides to promote water efficiency and sustainable agriculture.
This was announced at a ceremony held in Islamabad related to the collaboration, under which Saudi Arabia provided 10 state-of-the-art irrigation systems to Pakistan last year. The event was attended by Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Suliman bin Ali Al-Khateeb.
Dr. Al-Khateeb underscored Riyadh’s growing role in advancing sustainable agriculture by supporting the Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI). The GPI is an agricultural project that is a joint effort between the Pakistani government and the country’s army.
According to its website, GPI aims to enhance agricultural development in Pakistan. As per an official, a total of 1,36,000 acres of barren land have been cultivated in Pakistan under the GPI, with 64 partners in the private and public sectors.
“These irrigation systems were aimed at improving water efficiency and boosting crop yields in Pakistan,” he said.
