ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming Pakistan’s agriculture sector on Wednesday, highlighting its crucial role in achieving sustainable economic growth.
He stressed that strengthening the country’s agricultural backbone would help ensure food security, boost exports, and improve livelihoods for millions of farmers.
Speaking at a ceremony for the PM’s initiative to build the capacity of 1,000 agricultural graduates in China, the prime minister emphasized the urgent need to modernize Pakistan’s agricultural research institutions.
“We must focus on innovative farming practices, digitalized crop management, and developing climate-resilient seeds,” he said.
Under the initiative, 300 selected graduates are being sent to China for a 3-month training program during the first phase. In the second phase, 400 graduates will undergo a 6-month training program, followed by the remaining 300 graduates who will participate in a 3-month training program in the final phase.
The prime minister congratulated the 300 young graduates heading to China for training, and hoped that upon their return, they will contribute significantly to Pakistan’s agricultural economy.
Reflecting on his recent visit to China, the prime minister shared how he was inspired by the agricultural research conducted at Chinese universities. “I decided then to send 1,000 Pakistani agricultural graduates to benefit from this valuable experience,” he remarked.
He expressed regret that the first two attempts to send graduates to China failed due to issues with the selection process.
“The majority of selected graduates were average government officials,” he explained, adding that he ordered the development of an online portal for transparent and merit-based selection. “I am pleased to see that this time the entire process has been completed transparently and strictly on merit,” he said
He said graduates from all over Pakistan including those from AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan were included in the process while the quota of Balochistan was increased by 10%.
The prime minister acknowledged China as one of Pakistan’s most sincere allies, always standing by the country during tough times. “Without China’s support, our recent agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would not have been possible,” he said.
Shehbaz urged the graduates to work diligently during their training in China and apply the modern techniques they learn to boost per-acre yields, particularly for cotton and other cash crops.
The prime minister also announced plans to provide subsidized loans to farmers, encouraging entrepreneurship aimed at enhancing the value addition of various fruits and vegetables.
Ambassador of China to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong said he was much inspired by the Pakistan government’s performance in last one year during which the country’s macroeconomic indicators had improved significantly.
He said the Chinese government stood ready to cooperate with Pakistan in promoting bilateral relations especially in agriculture sector.
He emphasized that President Xi always attached great importance to their relationship with neighboring countries.
Under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said, China had made a direct investment of around $35.4 billion, reflecting the strong relationship between the two countries.
