Islamabad (Web Desk/Agencies): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday praised China as one of Pakistan’s most reliable and sincere friends, noting that China’s support was crucial in securing the country’s recent agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Addressing a ceremony held in connection with his initiative aimed at building the capacity of 1,000 agricultural graduates through training in China, the prime minister underlined the pressing need to revive and modernize Pakistan’s agricultural research institutions.
He reiterated the government’s firm resolve to overhaul and uplift Pakistan’s agriculture sector, stressing its vital role in achieving sustainable economic growth.
PM Shehbaz highlighted that reinforcing the country’s agricultural foundations would not only ensure food security but also enhance export potential and improve the livelihoods of millions of farmers across the nation.
The premier pointed out the importance of adopting practical and progressive farming methods, introducing digital crop management systems, and developing seeds that are resilient to climate change.
Under this ambitious initiative, the first batch of 300 selected graduates will soon depart for a three-month training program in China.
In the next phase, 400 graduates will undergo a six-month training period, followed by the final group of 300 graduates, who will also participate in a three-month program.
Congratulating the 300 young individuals ready to embark on the first phase, the prime minister expressed hope that they would return equipped with advanced knowledge and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Pakistan’s agricultural economy.
Recalling his visit to Chinese universities, the prime minister shared how impressed he was by the scope and quality of research being conducted in various agricultural domains.
Inspired by what he observed, he made the decision to send 1,000 Pakistani agricultural graduates to China to benefit from this valuable experience.
However, he expressed regret that the initial two efforts to execute this vision did not succeed due to flaws in the selection process, where a majority of the chosen candidates were overaged government employees.
To address this, he directed the creation of an online portal to manage applications and ensure transparency and merit in the selection process.
He expressed satisfaction that this time, the process was executed fairly and strictly on merit. Graduates from across the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, were included, and the quota for Balochistan was specifically increased by 10 percent to ensure greater representation.
The prime minister praised China as one of Pakistan’s most reliable and sincere friends, noting that China’s support was crucial in securing the country’s recent agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He advised the selected graduates to remain dedicated during their training in China and to bring back valuable techniques to help increase the per-acre yield of key crops, especially cotton and other cash crops.
He also announced that the government plans to offer subsidized loans to farmers to help them start agricultural enterprises, particularly those focused on adding value to fruits and vegetables.
Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the government's efforts under PM Shehbaz Sharif's leadership to boost productivity in both agriculture and livestock sectors.
The minister revealed that the government was investing over Rs3 billion in this program to provide young agricultural graduates with direct exposure and training in China, and expressed confidence that these graduates would apply their newfound skills effectively upon returning home.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong also addressed the gathering, expressing admiration for the Pakistani government’s progress over the past year, particularly in stabilizing the country's macroeconomic indicators.
He reaffirmed China’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Pakistan, especially in the agricultural sector.
The Chinese envoy noted that President Xi Jinping places high importance on relations with neighbouring countries.
Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he stated that China has so far invested approximately US$35.4 billion directly in Pakistan, reflecting the strength and depth of the two countries' partnership.
