ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday expressed his hopes for an “agricultural revolution” in the country following the training of 1,000 local experts in China, Pakistani state media reported.
The statement came during a meeting presided over by Iqbal with regard to training of these experts in China as part of collaboration between the two friendly countries, the state-run APP news agency. The report did not mention a timeline of the training program.
Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and constitutes its largest sector. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), agriculture contributes about 24 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and accounts for half of the employed labor force in the country.
During the meeting, Iqbal said Pakistan is sending its agricultural experts to China to get training and transform the sector on modern lines, adding that Pakistan has the best resources and minds but needed to acquaint its experts with modern technology and techniques to boost production.
“Developing agriculture on modern lines is the need of the hour,” he was quoted as saying. “Promoting research and education in this sector is among the top priorities of the government.”
The meeting was attended by National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain and other senior officials, according to the report.
Tanveer reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing the agricultural sector and adopting latest agricultural methodologies to achieve bumper crops and to change old harvesting methods.
Pakistan, which has been faced with an economic crisis, is currently looking to boost its agricultural production and exports to earn precious foreign exchange to support its economy.
In June this year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had said that he was looking forward to exploring new avenues to benefit from China’s agricultural prowess and “modernization.” The statement came after the premier arrived in the Chinese city of Xi’an in the third leg of his five-day visit to China
“Looking forward to learning about China’s agricultural modernization and innovation from the world class facilities of this great city,” the prime minister said on X, after landing in Xi’an.
“Keen to explore new avenues of cooperation and further deepen our linkages in agriculture to enhance Pakistan’s food productivity and quality.”
Pakistan hopes for ‘agricultural revolution’ after training of 1,000 local experts in China
https://arab.news/7nvfs
Pakistan hopes for ‘agricultural revolution’ after training of 1,000 local experts in China
- Agriculture is the largest sector in Pakistan, contributing about 24 percent of the GDP and accounting for half of the employed labor force
- In June, PM Shehbaz Sharif said he was looking forward to exploring new avenues to benefit from China’s agricultural prowess, ‘modernization’
Pakistan, Oman navies discuss maritime security, ink agreement to share shipping data
- Visiting Oman royal navy commander calls on Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf in Islamabad
- White shipping agreement refers to exchange of prior information on movement of commercial ships
ISLAMABAD: The naval commanders of Pakistan and Oman discussed regional maritime security on Wednesday and signed an agreement to share shipping information with each other, the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
The press release followed a meeting between Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and the visiting Oman Royal Navy Commander Rear Admiral Saif Bin Nasser Bin Mohsin Al Rahbi at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad.
Both navies maintain close professional relations, reflected in expert-level staff talks, joint training, bilateral exercises, and participation in multilateral exercises between the Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional maritime security and bilateral naval cooperation were discussed,” the Pakistan Navy said.
The MoU was signed by both sides at a ceremony at the Naval Headquarters, the navy’s media wing confirmed.
“The MoU is aimed at establishing of guidelines and procedures for information sharing in order to enhance mutual awareness of white shipping,” the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
White shipping agreement refers to the exchange of prior information on the movement and identity of commercial non-military merchant vessels.
Information regarding the identity of vessels helps countries tackle potential threats from sea routes. This particularly helps in the development of a proper regional maritime domain awareness
The statement said Al Rahbi lauded Pakistan Navy’s professionalism and acknowledged its ongoing contributions to maritime security and regional stability.
Pakistan and Oman share geographical proximity and common maritime boundaries. Bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries span a wide range of areas, including economic cooperation, people-to-people contacts and strong defense ties.
In December, a Royal Navy flotilla from Oman visited Karachi to take part in the annual bilateral Thamar Al Tayyib (TAT) 2025 exercise.
Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman have been conducting the TAT series of exercises regularly since 1980.
