Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has once again called agriculture the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, stressing that the country cannot progress without modernizing this vital sector. Speaking at a ceremony on Friday, he announced that a total of 1,000 Pakistani students will be sent to China for advanced agricultural training, with 300 students leaving in the latest batch.
The prime minister said that the selection of students was done strictly on merit, with representation from all four provinces. He added that the quota for Balochistan had been increased by 10 percent to ensure equal opportunities for its youth. He also promised that Balochistan would receive an additional 10 percent share in the government’s upcoming laptop distribution scheme.
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Highlighting the importance of learning from China, Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan must benefit from modern agricultural technology to meet future challenges. He pointed out that countries once less developed than Pakistan had now moved ahead, only because of merit and strong national planning. He said that livestock, along with agriculture, could play a key role in boosting the economy.
The prime minister also shared that he will soon travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. He underlined that Pakistan must reduce its reliance on foreign loans and move towards self-sufficiency. He said the true strength of Pakistan lies in its youth, and both federal and provincial governments must treat investment in young people as the highest form of national service.
The Chinese ambassador, who also addressed the event, praised Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership and said Pakistan had made remarkable progress under his government. He said the country’s economy had become more stable, and foreign reserves had grown. The ambassador assured that China will continue supporting Pakistan in its path towards rapid growth and stronger cooperation in various sectors.
During the ceremony, the Chinese envoy also handed over a cheque for flood relief assistance to the prime minister, further showing China’s long-standing friendship and support for Pakistan.
This new initiative is seen as an important step in preparing skilled youth to uplift the agriculture sector and to strengthen ties between Pakistan and China.
