ISLAMABAD, Apr 16 (Alliance News): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed the government’s resolve to revitalize Pakistan’s agriculture sector, terming it crucial for sustainable economic growth, food security, and improved livelihoods for farmers.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the launch of his initiative to send 1,000 agriculture graduates to China for advanced training, the prime minister emphasized the importance of modernizing agricultural research institutions, promoting climate-resilient farming, and adopting digital crop management techniques.
In the first phase, 300 graduates will attend a three-month training program in China. The second and third phases will train 400 and 300 graduates respectively, with the goal of equipping youth with practical knowledge to transform the agriculture landscape upon their return.
The prime minister congratulated the selected graduates and shared his inspiration for the initiative, recalling his visit to Chinese universities where he witnessed cutting-edge agricultural research.
He said earlier attempts to send graduates had failed due to flawed selection, favoring overage government officials. To ensure transparency and merit, an online application system was introduced.
Graduates from across Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, were selected, with Balochistan’s quota increased by 10%. The premier underscored China’s vital role in supporting Pakistan’s economy and praised its cooperation under CPEC, which has seen investments of over US$35.4 billion.
He urged the graduates to fully engage with their training and bring back innovations to increase crop yields, especially for cotton and other cash crops.
He also announced plans to provide subsidized loans to encourage agricultural entrepreneurship and value addition.
Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain said the government was investing over Rs 3 billion in the program to boost productivity in both agriculture and livestock sectors. He expressed confidence that the trained graduates will play a key role in transforming the sector.
Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong lauded Pakistan’s recent economic progress and reaffirmed China’s commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in agriculture.
He noted President Xi Jinping’s priority on strong ties with neighboring countries and praised the ongoing collaboration under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
