By Ayesha Mudassar ISLAMABAD, May 11 (INP-WealthPk): Pakistan must come in line with the competitive trading trends to increase output and exports. This could be achieved through applying innovative, cutting-edge technology, and increasing R&D. Muhammad Wajid from the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) told WealthPK that Pakistan had great potential to boost agricultural production but there was a need to pay attention to the sector and implement modern technology and tools to enhance per acre yield and to help the country save the foreign exchange incurred on imports. ‘’The main reason behind seed import is a lack of vast technology through which we can perform vast multiplication. Adoption of agricultural technologies and seed development will help in promoting smart farming and smart farm production,’’ he added. Amer Hasan, a manager at the Fauji Meat Limited, told WealthPK that Pakistan can generate billions of dollars from the halal food export, but the players need a favorable working environment and supportive regulatory framework. He said traditional management practices were employed for meat production, making it less productive. According to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Pakistan’s economic development is closely linked with the development of the industrial sector. To make a country’s products competitive in the international market, investment in technologies is the need of the hour. The country's market potential in gems and jewellery is $30 billion, but experts in this sector are limited due to inadequate facilities. The Northern Areas, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces of Pakistan are rich in these precious stones, which require modern machinery for valuation, and the government should provide timely support in this regard. According to the All Pakistan Marble Industries Association (APMIA), Pakistan has huge marble and granite reserves, but due to a lack of contemporary technology and machinery, the country has been unable to fully exploit its rich mineral reserves. The use of non-mechanized extraction is resulting in the wastage of around 70% of marble products. There is a dire need for devising a concrete strategy for promotion of exports in consultation with relevant stakeholders, as Pakistan lags in the industry due to a limited number of skilled workers and a lack of modern procedures. Investment in modern technologies is imperative. Use of technology is constantly increasing, gaining acceptance, and becoming a necessity for all kinds of industries to compete in the global markets, as it boosts output, lowers costs, and saves time.