Pakistan's Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (ECC) has announced the approval of a Rs37bn (€316m) investment to improve the country's fresh produce storage and processing facilities.
The decision was revealed by Pakistan's federal minister for food and agriculture, Nazar Muhammad Gondal, during a meeting on Monday 15 March to discuss the project, the Pakistan Times reported.
In his speech, Mr Gondal said that Pakistan needed to improve its cool chain, storage and fruit and vegetable processing capabilities across the country, particularly as the nation's prosperity is so directly linked to agriculture.
The project is set to be run under a public-private partnership principal, with the government offering incentive packages to the private sector to encourage organisations to invest.
'Our survival depends on agriculture,' said Mr Gondal. 'Pakistan is a blessed country but we need to properly manage the natural resources. Building cool chain and storages will enhance the productivity and benefits of the agriculture sector.'
In order to boost the project, the ministry will request Competitive Support Funds to help prepare a business plan.
