ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced that the first group of approximately 300 Pakistani graduates has successfully completed advanced agricultural training in China’s Shaanxi province, calling the development “very heartening.”
The initiative follows Prime Minister Sharif’s visit to Xi’an—Shaanxi’s key agricultural, industrial, and educational center—in June last year, where Pakistan finalized plans to send nearly 1,000 graduates to China for specialized training aimed at boosting the country’s agricultural productivity.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sharif extended his gratitude to the Chinese leadership, the provincial government of Shaanxi, and the Chinese universities involved in delivering hands-on training to Pakistani students. He also acknowledged the efforts of Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security, the Higher Education Commission, and the Pakistani Embassy in China for making the program possible.
“It is very heartening to see that the first batch of about 300 Pakistani agriculture graduates has completed practical training in Shaanxi Province, China,” Sharif wrote. “They received valuable instruction in key areas such as water-saving irrigation, seed production, animal husbandry, agricultural production, and post-harvest loss prevention.”
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Agriculture plays a pivotal role in Pakistan’s economy, accounting for nearly 25% of the national GDP and employing 37% of the labor force, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). However, the sector has faced mounting challenges in recent years, including rapid population growth, climate change, and inefficient resource management.
In light of these threats, Pakistani officials have increasingly emphasized the need for innovation and sustainable practices to secure future food production. Experts advocate for the construction of water reservoirs, the rehabilitation of wetlands, and the introduction of drought-resistant crop varieties as essential steps in this direction.
“Rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and the use of modern irrigation techniques such as drip and sprinkler systems are no longer luxuries—they are essential for our survival,” said Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change, in a statement earlier this year.