Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Saturday that the government will sponsor a group of 1,000 students to undergo advanced agricultural training at China’s Yangling Agricultural Demonstration Base. This initiative aims to modernize Pakistan’s agricultural sector and improve productivity.
The Prime Minister assured that all expenses for the students’ training would be covered by the government. He instructed the Ambassador of Pakistan to China and other relevant officials to finalize the arrangement in consultation with Chinese authorities. This announcement was made through a press release from the PM Office Media Wing. Additionally, PM Shehbaz extended an invitation to the North West Agriculture and Forestry University to establish a campus in Pakistan, pledging full government support for the initiative. He urged the ambassador and other officials to expedite the establishment of a mechanism to implement these plans.
During his visit to the Yangling Agricultural Demonstration Base, PM Shehbaz toured various sections, including the Pakistani Pavilion showcasing national products. Federal Ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaulllah Tarar, Dr. Musadik Malik, and Rana Tanveer Hussain accompanied him.
The Prime Minister received a briefing on collaborative agricultural research at the base, which involves 26 countries, with Pakistan as a leading partner. He was briefed on the contributions of Pakistani scientists and universities in these research efforts.
PM Shehbaz stressed Pakistan’s eagerness to adopt innovations to increase agricultural yield per acre. He emphasized that enhancing agricultural productivity and processing to boost exports remains a top priority for his government.
The Prime Minister also visited the latest plant production factory at the base, where he observed various practical agricultural mechanisms, highlighting the potential for modern agricultural practices to revolutionize Pakistan’s farming sector.