Mr. President,

It is a privilege for me to participate in the IFAD Governing Council meeting.

This meeting is taking place at a time when issues related to food security are once again foremost in the minds of people around the world, particularly in the developing countries. The spectre of food shortages, aggravated by rising food prices, climate change, and competing needs of food and energy are issues confronting us today.

What do these developments signify? And do we have the political will and capacity to address the very real issue of climate change? Whether the rising food prices are windfall or they pose a serious setback to the achievement of MDG 1? Whether bio-fuels offer an opportunity or a threat? Questions like these are being mulled over by experts and would need to be given careful consideration by international forums dealing with these issues. IFAD should consider these issues during the Eighth Replenishment period to find possible solutions.

Mr. President,

The new developments also require constant evolution and readjustment by IFAD. How it can help in meeting the emerging challenges is particularly relevant in determining the way forward for IFAD. The Independent External Evaluation of IFAD tried to address some of these questions immediately before the Seventh Replenishment three years ago. Since then, IFAD has undertaken a reassessment of itself, embodied by the formulation and putting in place of the Action Plan. The next few years would show how effective it is in revitalizing IFAD. Governance however, is still an issue of concern. It would be a pity if IFAD membership cannot agree on how to make the governance more transparent and more inclusive. That remains an outstanding task for us. The evolution of IFAD, therefore, is far from over.

Pakistan doubled its contribution to IFAD during the Seventh Replenishment period as a gesture of its strongest support to IFAD during its hour of uncertainty. We pledged to contribute muchmore if IFAD could improve its governance. We want IFAD to evolve into an organization worthy of and fulfilling its potential.

Mr. President,

Pakistan is committed to making agriculture more productive, profitable and competitive. The strategic direction to achieve this is to increase agricultural profitability within the overall framework of a pro-poor a pro-small farmer’s focus and ensure national food security. Enhanced agriculture profitability is planned to be achieved through narrowing the wide gap existing between progressive farm yields and average farm yields and diversification of farming to more remunerative high value areas of horticulture, livestock, fisheries, oilseeds, and cash crops such as tea, olives, herbs and medicinal plants linked with promotion of agribusiness development across the value chain. Higher productivity and more profitable agriculture will, we hope, also make our agriculture products more competitive in the international markets.

Moving away from subsistence and supply based production mode requires moving to more efficient agricultural production systems through adoption of modern technology and best agricultural practices. For this, we have to manage our natural resources in a sustainable manner, aiming at holistic development covering the entire value chain and on the other hand comply with international quality and health safety standards to create market for our products abroad.

Mr. President,

Achieving food security and reducing poverty are universal challenges and global community is striving hard to meet targets of the Millennium Development Goals to reduce hunger and poverty to half by 2015. Food security however, is becoming a formidable challenge, especially as the main grain growing countries are resorting to bio-fuel production, creating a divide between countries striving for food security and countries ensuring energy security. There is apprehension that worldwide growth in bio-fuel production could drain huge quantities of grains for bio-fuel products, placing food importing countries at a disadvantageous position. This is a critical issue which needs to be considered jointly by the global community.

Mr. President,

In Pakistan, IFAD operations and its targeting is far from perfect. Its innovations are distant from ground realities, and the sustainability of its operations remains questionable. Its supervision is seriously lacking. We would like IFAD to address these issues in a business-like manner. IFAD need to move and move quickly. The results of the Pakistan Country Portfolio Evaluation merit urgent action and Pakistan will do its share to endure that things change for the better.

Change is possible only with strong political will and commensurate human resources to match. IFAD needs to build on its human capital to ensure that it has the wherewithal to become a dynamic institution. The geographic diversity of IFAD’s staff at all levels is one aspiration that the membership expects to fulfil on an urgent basis.

On the positive side, the Eighth Replenishment is taking place at a time when there is helpful international environment for investment in agriculture and poverty alleviation. The World Development Report 2008, dedicated to agriculture, points a way and raises hopes. The recent replenishment of resources of African Development Fund has been a roaring success. It will be up to IFAD to follow suit and convince us that IFAD has the will to deliver on the dreams of its forefathers. Such a reassurance will go a long way to a successful replenishment of IFAD’s resources.