Ismail Dilawar

• Minister invites Spanish investment in agricultural technology, offers to expand exports of rice, ethanol, potatoes and maize
• Earlier this year, Spain backed Pakistan’s successful bid to become a full member of the International Olive Council

KARACHI: Pakistan has proposed establishing a joint agriculture working group with Spain and invited Spanish investment in agricultural technology as Islamabad seeks to expand exports of farm products and strengthen cooperation in the sector, the food security ministry said this week.

Pakistan has been seeking to modernize its agricultural sector through greater mechanization, improved irrigation and technology transfer while expanding value-added exports. Agriculture accounts for nearly a quarter of the country’s gross domestic product and employs more than a third of its workforce, making productivity gains a key priority for policymakers.

Spain is one of Europe’s largest agricultural producers and a global leader in areas including precision farming, olive cultivation, greenhouse agriculture and water management. Earlier this year, Spain also backed Pakistan’s successful bid to become a full member of the International Olive Council, the industry’s leading intergovernmental organization.

On Tuesday, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain met Spanish Ambassador Carlos Aragón Gil de la Serna in Islamabad, according to a ministry statement.

“The minister proposed the establishment of a Pakistan-Spain Joint Working Group on Agriculture, which would serve as a dedicated mechanism to promote cooperation in agricultural research, technology transfer, investment, food security and trade,” the ministry said.

It said the Spanish side welcomed the proposal and agreed to explore its early establishment.

The ministry said Hussain also invited Spanish companies and institutions to collaborate with Pakistan through technology transfer, research partnerships and capacity-building initiatives, citing Spain’s expertise in irrigation systems, mechanization and climate-resilient farming.

The minister told the ambassador Pakistan was ready to increase exports of rice, ethanol, potatoes and maize to the Spanish market and called for stronger agricultural trade between the two countries.

During the meeting, the Spanish ambassador congratulated Pakistan on becoming a full member of the IOC and noted the contribution of nearly 150,000 Pakistanis living in Spain to bilateral trade and economic ties.

Published Date: July 15, 2026