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ISLAMABAD: Uzbek Export Corporation and KASB Group have signed agreements to set up the Pak-Uzbek Trade House, aimed at introducing technologically advanced agricultural equipment in Pakistan, as the country struggles to enhance per-acre yield due to application of obsolete technology. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the visit of Uzbekistan Deputy Prime Minister Ulugbek Rozikulov, who along with Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi witnessed the signing ceremony. KASB Group Chairman Nasir Ali Shah Bukhari and Uzsanoatexport Board Chairman Erkinjon Yunusov inked the agreement. The KASB Group has already introduced cotton-picking equipment and tractors from Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is producing mechanised agriculture machinery, which is far better than the machinery produced in Pakistan, India and China. The cultivation through mechanised machinery doubles the yield. The KASB Group initially intends to target the cotton and wheat cultivation areas. It will introduce the machinery in South Punjab and Upper Sindh – the hub of cotton production. The small tractors will be introduced in upper Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Due to the relatively high cost of these imported equipment, the KASB Group would initially give the machinery on lease to the farmers, said Nasir Bukhari. The KASB Group is setting up model farms to double the per acre yield in the country. The group will arrange countrywide exhibition of the imported machinery before cotton plantation season. Despite an agrarian economy, Pakistan has been struggling to improve per acre yield. Still most of the work is done manually, which results into low production and high wastages. Uzbekistan is producing machinery with collaboration of Germany and France, ensuring better quality of goods. The agriculture equipment is being imported from Uzbekistan by road through Afghanistan. However, bureaucratic attitude of the customs officials remain an obstacle in timely clearance of these imported goods at Torkham border. It takes about three weeks at Torkham border to get the consignment cleared. The KASB Group is also introducing new technology-based tractors of 62HP and 100HP. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was impressed with the agricultural equipment when he visited Uzbekistan last time and had desired to introduce Uzbek farming technology in Pakistan. Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan met with Nawaz Sharif on Friday. The Prime Minister welcomed the concrete proposals from Uzbekistan for collaboration in the field of agricultural machinery, which are presently under consideration at the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of National Food Security, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.