PM Sharif acknowledges China’s assistance in Pakistan’s IMF agreement.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended China for its steadfast assistance to Pakistan, emphasizing the nation’s excellent participation in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
Speaking at the Islamabad Agriculture Scholarship Program, Sharif praised China’s vital support at every stage.
PM Shehbaz reaffirmed during his speech that Pakistani agricultural graduates who were chosen on the basis of merit will be going to China to pursue further agricultural studies.
“Pakistan will greatly benefit from the experiences of students pursuing higher education in China,” he said. Additionally, he thanked the Chinese government for providing Pakistani students with hefty scholarships.
Sharif recounted how the studies and advancements at China’s Agricultural University had impressed him during his visit. “The research conducted at the university left a lasting impression on me,” he stated.
“Pakistani students will play an essential role as a bridge between Beijing and Islamabad, fostering stronger ties between the two nations.”
Sharif emphasized that the scholarship program’s selection procedure was solely based on merit, highlighting the importance of youth in Pakistan’s growth.
“The agricultural graduates selected for this program represent all provinces of Pakistan, including Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Balochistan,” he stated. The quota for graduates from the province has been raised by more than 10% in acknowledgment of the particular difficulties faced by Balochistan.
Youth opportunities are essential to Pakistan’s progress: PM Shehbaz
Additionally, he emphasized the significance of enabling Pakistan’s youth to propel the country’s development, emphasizing that giving the younger generation opportunity is essential to the future progress of the nation.
“We have to revive our research institutes, populate our agricultural universities, and offer our youth the opportunity to contribute to cultivating the fields,” Sharif stated.
He continued, “I hope you will work tirelessly and bring immense honour to Pakistan.”
He called the event a significant milestone and noted that the youth hold the nation’s hopes.
“Today, as our young agricultural graduates depart for China—Pakistan’s closest friend—to receive advanced training in agriculture, the nation looks to you,” he said. “You must acquire expertise in agriculture and make significant contributions to the sector.”
PM Sharif also addressed a common misconception among graduates who, after completing their education, often seek government jobs.
“I say, you should also consider government work, but why not return to your villages and start your own ventures? We will support you with loans at subsidized rates and provide the necessary resources to boost agricultural exports and create value-added products,” the Prime Minister urged.
The students, traveling to China to receive training aligned with the challenges of climate change, will benefit from the country’s agricultural innovations and development. Sharif recalled his visit to China, during which he toured an Agricultural University in President Xi Jinping’s hometown.
The advanced facilities and innovations he witnessed inspired him to launch the program. “At that moment, I decided to send 1,000 Pakistani students to China for training, and I am grateful that President Xi Jinping approved this request,” he stated.
PM Shehbaz stressed that the program would help Pakistani agricultural graduates gain insights into China’s advanced agricultural sector and bring those learnings back to Pakistan to modernize the country’s agriculture.
He also highlighted the government’s commitment to strengthening the agricultural sector through capacity-building and merit-based selection of students for the program.
“In the past, government officials aged 45 to 50 participated in such training programs, but today, we are offering these opportunities to our youth,” Sharif said.
“While there is nothing wrong with senior officials benefiting from training, the future of Pakistan belongs to the youth. They will shape the country’s agricultural development in the modern era.”
The delegation of students represents all provinces of Pakistan, including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. When questioned about the merit-based selection process, the students responded with enthusiastic applause, endorsing the commitment to meritocracy.
PM Shehbaz also noted that the quota for Balochistan has been increased by 10 percent to ensure equitable opportunities for students from the province, continuing a practice he began during his tenure as Chief Minister of Punjab.
“Pakistan is a shared country for all of us,” Sharif concluded. “We must all work together to develop it.”
