Pakistan to train 300 agri students in China under new govt initiative

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that Pakistan’s development depends on empowering its youth, especially in the agriculture sector.

He was speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad where he announced a new government initiative to train young agricultural graduates.

Under the plan, 300 students will be selected from a group of 1,000 agricultural graduates and sent to China for advanced training in modern farming techniques. PM Shehbaz said these students will return with new skills and help improve agriculture in Pakistan, especially in rural areas.

He called young people the country’s biggest strength and said investing in their education and training will help Pakistan grow and regain its position in the world. “These students will bring back modern knowledge and help transform rural communities,” he said.

The prime minister added that after completing their training, the graduates will be encouraged to start their own businesses. The government will support them through subsidies, modern facilities, and low-interest loans.

PM Shehbaz thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for supporting the programme and said China is Pakistan’s closest friend. He shared that during his visit to an agricultural university in China, he saw impressive modern technology that could benefit Pakistan’s farming sector.

He urged the students to learn from China’s successful agricultural model and apply it in Pakistan to increase productivity and exports.

PM Shehbaz said the selected students are from all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir, and assured that the selection process was fair and based on merit. He also repeated the government’s commitment to strengthening agriculture and promoting youth-led innovation for national progress.