Rana Tanveer Hussain, Honble Minister for National Food Security & Research is currently on an official visit to Rome, leading Pakistan’s delegation at IFAD’s ongoing 49^th Governing Council.

The meeting brought together government representatives, private sector leaders, youth entrepreneurs, and international financial institutions to advance rural development, sustainable agriculture, and investment in young rural entrepreneurs.

The Minister has held productive bilateral meetings with President IFAD, as well as with Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE) focusing ongoing projects in Pakistan and linked opportunities.

Minister Rana, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to IFAD’s current and forthcoming Replenishment Cycles, extended invitation for President IFAD’s bilateral visit to Pakistan.

President IFAD, Alvaro Lario, fondly recalled signing of bilateral ‘Home Country Agreement’ in July 2023 and subsequent establishment of IFAD’s Home Country Office in Islamabad later in the same year. He expressed keenness to visit Islamabad later in the year while underlining Pakistan’s pioneering role in the establishment of IFAD.

Both dignitaries appreciated Pakistan’s top position as IFAD’s partner-nation with bilateral portfolio spreading beyond $1.2Bn, and reviewed successful execution of ongoing projects under IFAD’s ‘2023-27 Country Strategy’ for Pakistan in the four provinces focusing rural development, sustainable agriculture, poverty alleviation and food security.

The Minister welcomed forthcoming visit to Pakistan by Executive VP IFAD Mr. Donal Brown during 2^nd week of March. Mr. Brown was assisting President IFAD in the meeting and recalled his linkage with Pakistan along with plan to avail the invitation extended by Honble Advisor to Prime Minister Dr. Syed Tauqir Shah, when the two dignitaries had met on margins of ‘Rome Water Forum’ organized by FAO  in October 2025.

The Honble Minister delivered country statements at the High-Level Roundtable marking ten years of International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR), and at dedicated session themed “From Farm to Market: Investing with Young Entrepreneurs’. He highlighted Pakistan’s strong credentials as one of leading remittances’ destinations.

He underscored Government’s efforts to enhance financial inclusion and productive channelling of remittances in agriculture and Small Enterprises aligned with Pakistan’s broader commitment to rural transformation, poverty reduction and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to maximize their developmental impact.

Minister Rana was last in Rome to represent Pakistan at FAO Council from 2-4 December 2025 when he also held bilateral meeting with Italian counterpart focusing on ongoing ‘Olive Culture Scale-Up Project’. His current visit underscores Pakistan’s active engagement with multilateral platforms, particularly Rome-Based UN Organizations including IFAD, FAO and WFP.

Embassy of Pakistan, Rome.

February 11, 2026.