HBL Chairman Sultan Ali Allana has called for the development of a comprehensive national strategy to transform Pakistan’s agriculture sector, emphasizing its central role in ensuring food security, economic stability, and long-term national resilience. His remarks were delivered at the Pakistan Business Council’s fourth edition of the two-day Dialogue on the Economy 2025, where leaders from across Pakistan’s economic, financial, and policy circles convened to discuss the country’s most pressing challenges.
Addressing the gathering, Allana stated that agriculture is far more than a conventional economic segment; it is the foundation upon which Pakistan’s stability and future prosperity rest. He noted that agriculture must not be viewed merely as a contributor to GDP but as a sector that sustains communities, ensures food availability, and strengthens the nation’s long-term development trajectory. According to him, improving agriculture is essential not only for supporting farmers but also for fortifying the country’s economic backbone.
During the session, Allana highlighted that Pakistan’s agriculture sector requires a coordinated, forward-looking strategy that aligns public and private investments, policymaking, and community engagement. He emphasized that the sector’s challenges, including limited productivity, water scarcity, outdated farming practices, and fragmented value chains, must be addressed through a unified national roadmap. He stressed that “if we get agriculture right, we don’t just protect the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, we build a more resilient and prosperous Pakistan on top of it,” underscoring the need for immediate structural reforms.
Allana further explained that the phrase “Beyond Banking, Sowing Change” must evolve from a slogan into a countrywide mission. This mission, in his view, should focus on advancing modern farming techniques, expanding access to mechanization, ensuring efficient water management, and enabling digital advisory and agronomy services for farmers. He added that Pakistan needs an ecosystem where agricultural policies, financial institutions, technology solutions, and community efforts all move in the same direction to enhance farm productivity and safeguard the nation’s food security.
He also shed light on the contributions being made by the HBL Group across the agriculture value chain. Through various agritech-driven initiatives, the bank is working to connect farmers with critical services such as agronomy support, modern machinery, warehousing solutions, advisory platforms, and market access. By integrating financial inclusion with digital agriculture tools, HBL aims to operationalize a vision where farmers can benefit from technology-led efficiency, greater market transparency, and improved yields.
During the discussion, Allana reiterated that Pakistan’s agricultural future requires innovation, collaboration, and sustained commitment. He underscored that aligning national priorities with long-term agricultural reforms will not only strengthen rural livelihoods but also create ripple effects across the economy, contributing to higher growth, improved food security, and better climate resilience.
The Dialogue on the Economy 2025 provided a platform for policymakers, industry experts, and private-sector leaders to evaluate opportunities for driving inclusive growth. Allana’s emphasis on agricultural modernization resonated strongly within a broader conversation on reshaping Pakistan’s economic landscape through sustainable, technology-enabled, and coordinated policy frameworks.
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