Muscat: In a meeting held in Muscat, Oman’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al Habsi, extended a warm welcome to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and congratulated her on her recent achievement of receiving the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award. The discussions centered on strengthening cooperation in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, and water resources between Oman and Punjab.
According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, the meeting concluded with an agreement to enhance bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, and livestock. The Omani minister proposed the establishment of the first shrimp center in Punjab, while both sides agreed on measures to boost the exports of livestock for milk and meat production. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif proposed exporting meat from Punjab to Muscat and suggested lifting restrictions on the arrival of skilled workers from Punjab in Muscat, a proposal that received the Omani minister’s approval regarding visa restrictions.
Chief Minister Sharif emphasized the importance of skill development programs in Punjab, noting that a significant portion of Pakistan’s population consists of youth who are being equipped with technical and vocational training. She highlighted the success of the pilot program for shrimp farming in Punjab and announced plans for an Aquaculture Mall and Shrimp Diagnostic Laboratory.
The Chief Minister expressed gratitude for the support from Muscat in promoting aquaculture and mentioned future plans to expand shrimp farming across Punjab. She also highlighted Punjab’s readiness to export high-quality meat to Muscat and sought facilitation from Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in this regard.
Minister Al Habsi acknowledged the demand for skilled workers in Muscat and recognized the talent of Pakistani youth. He assured that Oman would communicate its requirements for skilled workers in various sectors like construction, aquaculture, and agriculture, welcoming skilled workers from Punjab to contribute to these industries.