China always stands with Pakistan in difficult times, says PM Shehbaz Sharif

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reiterated the government’s resolve to revamp Pakistan’s agriculture sector, declaring it vital for sustainable economic growth, food security, and improved livelihoods for millions of farmers.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad marking the launch of the Prime Minister’s initiative to train 1,000 agriculture graduates in China, the premier stressed the need to revive agricultural research institutions, adopt modern farming practices, and develop climate-resilient crops.
In the first phase, 300 graduates will undergo a three-month training program in China. This will be followed by a six-month training for 400 graduates, and another three-month program for the remaining 300 participants in the final phase.
Congratulating the first batch of graduates departing for China, the prime minister expressed confidence that they would return equipped with valuable skills to uplift Pakistan’s agricultural economy. He recalled his recent visit to China, where he was inspired by the country’s advancements in agricultural research, prompting him to initiate this training program.
He noted that earlier attempts to launch the initiative had failed due to flaws in the selection process, which favored government officials overqualified youth. To ensure transparency and merit, an online application portal was introduced.
The initiative includes participants from across Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, with a 10% increased quota for Balochistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz lauded China as a steadfast friend and acknowledged its support in securing the recent IMF deal. He urged the graduates to make the most of their training by learning techniques to improve crop yields, especially of cotton and other cash crops.
He also announced the government’s plan to offer subsidized loans to young farmers for agri-entrepreneurship and value addition in fruits and vegetables.
Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain said the government was investing over Rs3 billion in the initiative to build capacity in the agriculture and livestock sectors.
Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong expressed admiration for Pakistan’s recent economic progress and reaffirmed China’s commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation in agriculture. He noted that China had already invested around US$35.4 billion under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), underscoring the strength of the relationship.