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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is planning to establish a local assembly line for Belarus-made tractors as part of efforts to modernize its agriculture sector and attract foreign investment, state news agency APP reported this week. 

The plan was discussed at a meeting chaired by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, who met with representatives of private sector investors to review a proposal to set up a plant to assemble 57–80 horsepower Belarus tractors in Pakistan.

Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, employing nearly 40 percent of its workforce and contributing about a fifth of GDP. Yet the sector continues to suffer from low mechanization and productivity. 

Officials say partnerships with foreign manufacturers could help address these challenges while also attracting foreign direct investment and strengthening bilateral economic ties, particularly with Belarus, a major producer of heavy machinery and tractors.

“An agreement with Belarus on tractors will significantly boost agriculture and increase farmers’ productivity,” Khan was quoted by APP as saying.

He said the government aimed to ensure investment for a Completely Knocked Down (CKD) plant, a local assembly facility where imported tractor components are assembled domestically, reducing costs and building local capacity for manufacturing.

According to APP, sources familiar with the plan estimate a potential market of about 2,800 tractor units over the next five years, signaling strong demand for high-horsepower machinery in Pakistan’s largely under-mechanized farming sector.

“Some investors have already shown deep interest in Belarus tractors, and more should step forward to invest in this opportunity,” Khan said, calling for broader participation from the private sector.

He added that a business-to-business (B2B) relationship between Pakistan and Belarus in tractor assembly “would prove to be a game-changer,” underscoring the government’s view of the project as a step toward deepening industrial cooperation and expanding foreign partnerships.

ISLAMABAD: Aid groups said this week they are shifting from emergency response to early recovery after weeks of monsoon floods displaced around 3 million people and affected more than 6.9 million across Pakistan.

According to a new situation report by International Medical Corps (IMC) released on Sept. 25, floods have inundated more than 2.5 million acres of farmland, destroyed crops and livestock, and forced over 150,000 people into temporary shelters. As waters slowly recede, families returning home are finding collapsed houses, contaminated water sources and damaged sanitation systems, raising fears of disease outbreaks.

The floods come just three years after the 2022 disaster that submerged a third of the country and affected 33 million people, highlighting Pakistan’s growing vulnerability to climate-driven disasters. Authorities and humanitarian groups are warning that recurring extreme weather is eroding livelihoods, deepening food insecurity and straining already fragile public services.

“These floods have upended lives and livelihoods on a massive scale, and our focus now is on helping affected families recover from the immediate impacts and begin rebuilding their lives,” an IMC spokesperson said in the report. 

The organization said its teams have conducted 2,285 outpatient consultations, distributed more than 57,500 water-purification sachets, and reached 21,834 people with hygiene promotion sessions. IMC has also identified four health facilities for rehabilitation and is providing psychosocial support to flood-affected families.

“Health risks remain high, with rising cases of diarrhea, skin infections and mosquito-borne diseases,” IMC said. “Damage to water infrastructure has left many communities relying on unsafe sources, while livestock losses have further undermined rural incomes.”

IMC teams are now mapping damaged villages to assess long-term needs and plan for the rehabilitation of essential services.

“Restoring clean water access and repairing health facilities will be critical to preventing future disease outbreaks and supporting communities as they rebuild,” the organization said.