Pakistan sends 300 agricultural graduates to China under PM's training initiative
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The first group of 300 agricultural graduates will depart for China on April 16 as part of a government-funded international training programme aimed at modernising Pakistan's agriculture sector, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research said in a statement on Monday.
The initiative, titled the Prime Minister's Initiative for Capacity Building of 1,000 Agricultural Graduates in China, seeks to equip young professionals with cutting-edge skills in farm technology, biotechnology, and sustainable agriculture practices.
'Through collaboration with leading Chinese universities and research institutes, the programme offers specialised training in nine high-priority areas including farm mechanisation, biotechnology, genomics, precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, and high-efficiency irrigation systems,' the ministry stated.
PM Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain are scheduled to attend a send-off ceremony on April 15 for the departing batch.
The training programme, which will span between three to six months, is fully funded by the Pakistani government. Graduates were selected through a merit-based competitive process, with placements aligned to their academic specialisations.
According to the ministry, participants are expected to return as 'master trainers' who will play a pivotal role in transferring knowledge and modern techniques to local farming communities, universities, and research institutions.
The government had earlier announced plans to send a total of 1,000 agricultural graduates to China in 2025 under this capacity-building effort. Officials say the initiative reflects Islamabad's commitment to transforming agriculture into a high-tech and sustainable sector that can meet food security challenges and boost economic growth.
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