ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that another 1,000 Pakistani students will be sent to China at government expense this year for advanced training in agriculture and livestock.
Addressing a national seminar on livestock development in Islamabad, the prime minister said Pakistan’s farmers continue to contribute to the economy across all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, but remain behind regional competitors because of limited access to modern technology, equipment and scientific methods.
He said the new training initiative was aimed at building technical expertise and introducing modern practices in Pakistan’s agriculture and livestock sectors.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan has significant natural and agricultural resources and is among the world’s largest milk-producing countries. He added that the country also has strong potential to expand meat production and exports.
The prime minister criticised the performance of several public-sector agriculture and livestock institutions, saying many had become ineffective because of poor management and favouritism.
He said the federal and provincial governments would have to work together and move beyond policy statements towards practical reforms.
Pakistan Seeks Chinese Support for Modern Farming
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan had sought China’s assistance in introducing modern methods and technology in agriculture and livestock.
He said sustained work in these sectors over the next year could make a significant contribution to economic growth.
The prime minister also referred to a livestock disease for which a vaccine is not currently produced in Pakistan.
He announced that the government would provide the required funding to develop or secure the vaccine but said the initiative would be outsourced to avoid the administrative weaknesses seen in some existing institutions.
He stressed that controlling livestock diseases was essential for improving productivity and supporting farmers.
Students Trained in China to Support Sector Reforms
Shehbaz Sharif said 1,000 students from across Pakistan had been sent to China last year at government expense for training in agriculture and livestock.
He announced that another group of 1,000 students would be sent this year under the same programme.
The prime minister said the government must now make effective use of the knowledge and experience of students who have already completed their training in China.
He called for a clear plan to place trained graduates in relevant institutions and projects so their expertise could support agricultural modernisation, livestock development and national economic growth.
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