ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sounded the alarm over the decline of Pakistan’s cotton industry, urging a national effort to revive the sector that has seen output fall dramatically from 14 million bales to just four million in recent years.
“We must revive our cotton sector. Similarly, livestock holds massive potential,” said Prime Minister Sharif while addressing a ceremony marking the departure of another 300 students for China. These students will participate in a fully funded international training programme aimed at upgrading Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
The Prime Minister highlighted that agriculture remains the backbone of the national economy and stressed the urgent need to modernize the sector to address declining productivity, particularly in cotton and livestock. “We are an agrarian economy. Any investment in this sector directly strengthens the national economy,” he added.
The 300 students selected from across the country will serve as “ambassadors of Pakistan” in China, where they will learn advanced farming techniques. This training initiative is part of a broader bilateral youth development programme to enhance cooperation between Pakistan and China in the agricultural domain.
Sharif also praised the performance of the first batch of 300 students who recently returned from China after completing their training, particularly in the province of Xi’an. He recalled that the initiative had been launched following his visit to an agricultural university in China, where he witnessed the practical application of advanced research and farming practices.
The new cohort includes students from all provinces, with a 10% quota reserved for Balochistan, ensuring regional inclusivity. The students are scheduled to depart for China on August 24.