In a concerted effort, Pakistan's leaders from both the civil and military sectors have come together to address crucial challenges in the agricultural sector, namely food insecurity, malnutrition, and escalating import costs.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, among others, have introduced an innovative solution known as the Land Information and Management System – Centre of Excellence (LIMS-COE).

This groundbreaking initiative aims to revitalize unproductive land, ensure food security, promote agricultural exports, and alleviate the burden on the national economy.

The inauguration ceremony of LIMS-COE witnessed the presence of the prime minister, COAS, ministers of finance, defense, planning, information, and various other dignitaries.

Chief secretaries from provincial governments, agricultural experts, senior army officials, and key officials from other countries also attended the event.

"The establishment of LIMS represents a remarkable first step towards enhancing food security, improving agricultural exports, and reducing the burden of imports on the national treasury," stated the official announcement issued by the Prime Minister's Office. The initiative is poised to transform millions of uncultivated or low-yield acres across the country.

This state-of-the-art system will optimize agricultural production by leveraging innovative technologies and sustainable precision farming practices based on the agroecological potential of the land. Moreover, it will ensure the welfare of rural communities and the preservation of the environment.

According to the World Food Programme, 36.9 percent of Pakistanis face food insecurity, with 18.3 percent experiencing severe food crises.

Acknowledging the prevailing food insecurity, mass malnutrition, and the growing import bill for agricultural products in light of projected population growth and future domestic food requirements, "the national political, economic, and military leadership has resolved to take decisive and meaningful measures to address this critical issue," emphasized the statement.

The GIS-based LIMS will significantly enhance national agricultural productivity by digitizing the sector, providing real-time information to local farmers regarding soil conditions, crops, weather patterns, water resources, and pest monitoring through remote sensing and geospatial technologies. Additionally, it will streamline the marketing system, reducing the reliance on intermediaries.

The LIMS-COE initiative follows the presentation of an 'Economic Revival Plan' by the civil-military leadership on June 20, which was positioned as a transformative endeavor surpassing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), aiming to combat the nation's ongoing growth challenges.

As part of the economic recovery plan, the government established a Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to serve as a seamless interface for investors and eliminate investment barriers with the assistance of the military.

This army-backed plan focuses on harnessing Pakistan's untapped potential in critical sectors through local development and foreign investments, particularly from Gulf countries, to expedite project implementation.

This joint effort by the civil-military leadership marks the second initiative ahead of the upcoming general elections, emphasizing their united commitment to progress.

During a previous event chaired by PM Shehbaz and attended by the COAS at the PM House, the prime minister emphasized the importance of export-oriented foreign direct investments (FDIs), while the army chief pledged full military support, recognizing the plan's significance for national prosperity.

The plan envisions capitalizing on Pakistan's untapped potential in defense production, agriculture, livestock, minerals and mining, information technology, and energy through domestic development and investments from friendly nations.