Sweden and Pakistan are of the opinion that bilateral cooperation needs to be expanded in relation to agriculture, food security, livestock, research, and sustainable development while also encouraging Pakistan to assume a leading role in the struggle against antimicrobial resistance on a global level. The meeting regarding Pakistan Sweden agriculture cooperation AMR involving Pakistani Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and Swedish Ambassador Alexandra Berg von Linde recognized that despite a strong political relationship, agricultural cooperation is underdeveloped.
“While the political ties between the two countries are wonderful, the level of cooperation in agriculture has been negligible thus far and much can be done in this regard.”
Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain
Swedish Government Asks Pakistan to Become a Member of International AMR Group
The most important part of the agriculture cooperation between Pakistan and Sweden in regard to AMR was that the Swedish ambassador encouraged Pakistan to become a member of the Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, an international group working on the global policies related to one of the major concerns in medicine.
“The participation of Pakistan will enhance the representation of the Eastern Mediterranean Region in the international forum.”
Swedish Ambassador Alexandra Berg von Linde
One Health: The Approach Adopted by Both Nations
Both the nations reiterating their commitment to the One Health approach, an internationally accepted framework which considers human health, animal health, and environment health to be interlinked systems in need of collaborative governance. For purposes of Pakistan Sweden agriculture cooperation regarding AMR, this means:
- Prudent usage of antibiotics in human medicines as well as in livestock farming
- Public education campaign about dangers of AMR among farmers, veterinarians, and consumers
- Strengthening regulatory system regarding prescription and usage of antibiotics
One Health’s compatibility with Sweden – an innovative state in sustainable farming and antibiotic usage – allows Pakistan to draw on best practices and technical skills not yet available through Pakistan’s own agricultural governance mechanisms.
Research Collaboration between PARC and Sweden through AMR
The Pakistan-Sweden cooperation on agriculture related to AMR discussions have explicitly mentioned that the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council will be the organization that will engage with Sweden for research collaborations in the field of agriculture. The collaboration between PARC and Sweden will ensure sustainable exchange of knowledge beyond diplomacy.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister Hussain appreciated the increased training and capacity building opportunities for Pakistan’s agricultural experts under Sweden’s development cooperation framework which includes the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), a well-known agency that has been supporting agriculture development programs in the developing world for many years.
Sweden Investment Solicited at All Stages in Agriculture Value Chain in Pakistan
During the AMR on agriculture between Pakistan and Sweden, the Federal Minister directly invited the Swedish business community to invest in agriculture, food processing, dairy, post harvest management, and value addition sectors.
It was observed by the Swedish Ambassador that Swedish companies have been working in Pakistan in food processing, milk packing, and sustainable textile manufacturing—creating a basis for further investment relations without the hassle of going to a completely new market.
The previous experiences of Swedish companies operating in Pakistan serve as a solid basis for future cooperation in economic and agriculture fields. Therefore, this will be more like a deepening of an existing business relationship rather than the beginning of one.
Livestock – The Sector Showing the Greatest Potential
The development of livestock was a major topic of conversation in relation to the collaboration between Pakistan and Sweden on AMR in agriculture; both countries agreed that there will be an improvement in collaboration in areas of animal health, dairy production, food safety, and sustainable livestock management.
The knowledge and skills of Sweden in the area of precise dairy farming, animal health surveillance, and sustainable feeding of livestock can be readily applied to the livestock industry of Pakistan, which is the biggest source of agricultural GDP contribution, estimated at around 60 percent. The production levels of an average dairy buffalo in Pakistan fall well short of the potential that it possesses genetically; here again, Sweden holds the key.
Nayab Fatima is a media professional specializing in fact-based journalism, research, and analytical reporting on technology, telecom, aviation, and automobiles.
