PM Announces Sending 1,000 Students China for Advanced Agriculture Training
Concluding his visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returned to Pakistan with his high-level delegation.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, concluding his five-day visit to China, made a significant announcement on Saturday, revealing plans to dispatch 1,000 students to China for specialized training in the agricultural sector. The announcement unfolded during his tour of the Yangling Agricultural Demonstration Base in Xi’an, China, according to state media.
During his visit to the agricultural facility, PM Shehbaz also extended an invitation to China’s Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University to establish a campus in Pakistan. He directed the relevant authorities, including Pakistan’s ambassador to China, to engage with Chinese counterparts to finalize the arrangements for this endeavor.
Prior to these revelations, the Prime Minister explored various sections of the facility, including the Pakistan Pavilion, where he inspected Pakistani products. Additionally, he observed a demonstration of vertical agriculture methods at a modern plant production factory.
In discussions with Chinese officials, PM Shehbaz emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to modernizing its agriculture sector to boost crop yield per acre and elevate agricultural exports. He underscored the importance of collaboration with China in achieving these goals.
Furthermore, PM Shehbaz received comprehensive briefings on the operations of the Yangling Base, highlighting the involvement of 26 countries in agricultural research initiatives, with Pakistan leading the way as the inaugural participant. He was also informed about the engagement of Pakistani universities and scientists in research activities at the Yangling Base.
Concluding his visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returned to Pakistan with his high-level delegation. Throughout his stay, he engaged in productive meetings with Chinese leadership, authorities, and representatives from business and investment sectors.
The Prime Minister’s visit was undertaken at the invitation of Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, further strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.
Balochistan Unveils New Contributory Pension Scheme for Future Employees
The Balochistan government announced a new pension plan for future provincial employees, to be implemented in the upcoming budget. This scheme will function differently from the current model.
Under the new system, a portion of each new employee’s monthly salary will be contributed towards their pension. The provincial government will then match this contribution, creating a combined fund that will be accessible to the employee upon retirement.
Existing government employees will not be transitioned into this new scheme and will continue under the existing pension structure.
This announcement comes from Balochistan’s Finance Department officials, who elaborated that further details regarding the scheme will be unveiled in the next fiscal year’s provincial budget.
