Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer, Ahad Cheema, and Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) attended the meeting. It was revealed during the meeting that 1287 students applied for the program, with 711 meeting the necessary criteria.
The students will be sent in two batches: 300 students in the first batch, scheduled to leave for China in March 2025, and 400 students in the second batch, set to depart in mid-2025.
Shehbaz Sharif directed that a dedicated committee be formed to address any grievances related to the selection process and ensure transparency.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong relationship with China, particularly in the agricultural sector, highlighting that China’s success in agriculture provides an invaluable opportunity for Pakistani students to learn advanced agricultural techniques.
The Prime Minister added that the government’s support extends to funding the full cost of the modern agricultural training in China, further expressing his hope that the initiative would contribute to Pakistan’s agricultural development.
Additionally, Shehbaz Sharif announced that 10 percent of the total number of students being sent will be selected from Balochistan as part of a special quota for the province.