Islamabad, (TW) — The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), proudly marked the successful conclusion of the Project for Agri-Food and Agro-Industry Development Assistance (PAFAID) with a closing ceremony. The event was graced by the Honorable Chief Guest, Mr. Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research.
In his remarks, the Federal Minister expressed his gratitude to UNIDO and JICA, highlighting the importance of advancing Pakistan’s agricultural and livestock sectors for improved food security through innovative practices, sustainable resource use, and value addition. He emphasized the government’s commitment to agriculture-led economic growth, improving food safety standards, and enhancing export capacity in livestock and horticulture.
The PAFAID initiative, implemented since September 2019, focused on enhancing the productive and compliance capacities in the cattle meat value chain in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the apple value chain in Balochistan. The project achieved remarkable milestones, including the establishment of state-of-the-art meat training facility, meat testing laboratories, apple grading facilities, fruit processing unit and the training of over 2,230 stakeholders, including farmers, processors, and government officials, in best practices and modern techniques. The initiative has also supported the upgrade of butcher shops and female meat product manufacturers and integrated international standards in the operation and policy framework of provincial authorities.
Ms. Nadia Aftab, UNIDO Country Representative, highlighted the significance of the project, stating: “Over the past five years, the PAFAID project has successfully enhanced the productive and compliance capacities of the meat and apple value chains. We’ve empowered local processors, especially women, and boosted food safety and market access. This would not have been possible without the collaboration of key stakeholders, and we thank the Governments of Japan and Pakistan, and JICA for their invaluable support.”
Mr. Naoaki Miyata, JICA Chief Representative expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts, adding:
“This partnership has demonstrated the transformative potential of targeted development initiatives, and we look forward to continuing our support for sustainable agriculture in Pakistan.”
The ceremony concluded with the distribution of certificates to beneficiaries and partners who played a vital role in the project’s success, followed by a showcase of the facilities and value-added products developed under the initiative.