Punjab Agriculture Minister, secretary and PSMA congratulate new body of Agriculture Journalists Association

By Wasif Mahmood

LAHORE -- Punjab Minister for Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and Punjab Secretary of Agriculture Shakeel Ahmed Mian have congratulated the newly elected office-bearers and expressed their best wishes for the association’s future endeavours.

Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) North Zone also extended its congratulations to the newly elected AJA office-bearers.

Senior journalist Zahid Ameer Baig has been elected unopposed as President of the Agriculture Journalists Association for a two-year term, as all key positions in the association’s annual elections were filled without a contest.

Haider Munir was elected Vice President, Ali Waqar Secretary, and Umair Rana Finance Secretary. Meanwhile, Amjad Mahmood, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Abdul Qadir Madni were elected unopposed to the association’s Executive Body.

Senior journalist Syed Jawad Rizvi served as Election Commissioner for the annual elections.

Agriculture Minister Kirmani expressed hope that the newly elected leadership would play an effective role in promoting agricultural journalism and raising awareness among farmers and other stakeholders about government initiatives, development projects and ongoing programmes in the agriculture sector.

He emphasised the need to highlight modern agricultural technologies and strengthen professional reporting on initiatives launched by the Agriculture and Livestock Departments. He said agricultural journalists could help ensure that farmers and other stakeholders remained informed about policies, schemes and developments aimed at improving the sector.

Punjab Secretary of Agriculture Shakeel Ahmed Mian said coordination and cooperation between the Punjab Agriculture Department and the Agriculture Journalists Association would be further strengthened.

He underscored the importance of agricultural journalism in disseminating timely and relevant information to farmers and other stakeholders, particularly regarding government initiatives and developments in the agriculture sector.

The PSMA North Zone expressed the hope that the association would continue to promote agricultural journalism while highlighting the challenges faced by farmers and the agro-based industry. It said constructive media engagement could help bring key agricultural and industrial issues to the attention of relevant authorities and contribute to the sector’s progress.

Senior journalist and former President of the Agriculture Reporters Association, Almas Ahmed Khan, also congratulated the newly elected office-bearers and extended his best wishes to them.

He expressed hope that the new leadership would work actively for the welfare of association members, strengthen the organisation and effectively represent the interests of agricultural journalists.