ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to transforming Pakistan’s agriculture sector, terming it vital for sustainable economic growth, food security, and the uplift of millions of farmers.
Addressing a ceremony marking the launch of the Prime Minister’s initiative for the capacity building of 1,000 agriculture graduates in China, PM Shehbaz stressed the urgent need to modernize the sector by promoting meaningful farming practices, digital crop management, and the development of climate-resilient seeds.
In the first phase of the initiative, 300 selected graduates will travel to China for a 3-month training program. This will be followed by a second phase involving 400 graduates in a 6-month training, and a final batch of 300 who will also undergo 3-month training.
The Prime Minister congratulated the first batch of graduates and urged them to make the most of their opportunity by learning modern agricultural techniques and bringing back valuable expertise to help improve crop yield—particularly cotton and other cash crops.
Recalling his recent visit to China, PM Shehbaz said he was deeply impressed by the agricultural research conducted at Chinese universities, which inspired the idea of sending young Pakistani graduates for advanced training. He expressed regret that two earlier attempts to implement the program were unsuccessful due to a flawed selection process that favored overage government officials rather than young talent.
To ensure transparency and merit in the current phase, the government developed an online portal for applications. PM Shehbaz expressed satisfaction over the fair selection of graduates from across Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and an increased 10% quota for Balochistan.
He also praised China as a sincere friend of Pakistan, highlighting Beijing’s crucial support in Pakistan’s recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. He thanked the Chinese government for its continued cooperation, particularly under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which has attracted direct investment worth approximately $35.4 billion.
The Prime Minister announced plans to provide subsidized loans to farmers, encouraging entrepreneurship and value addition in the agriculture sector, particularly in fruit and vegetable processing.
Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, said over Rs 3 billion has been allocated for this training initiative. He expressed hope that the graduates would return with cutting-edge knowledge and practical skills to improve both agriculture and livestock productivity.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, also addressed the gathering, lauding Pakistan’s recent economic progress and reiterating China’s readiness to strengthen bilateral cooperation, especially in agriculture. He noted that President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to China’s relations with neighboring countries like Pakistan.
The initiative marks a major step in advancing agricultural innovation and knowledge exchange between Pakistan and China, with the goal of revitalizing Pakistan’s farming sector.
Source: APP
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