Islamabad: In a significant step toward agricultural advancement, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal led a meeting to deliberate on a short-term training program for 1,000 Pakistani agriculture professionals in China. This initiative, steered by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, aims to enhance the expertise in the agricultural sector through strategic international training.

According to Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives, the meeting saw participation from key government figures, including the Secretary of Planning Mr. Awais Manzur Sumra, Secretary of Education, and the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission. Officials from the Ministry of Food, Ministry of Finance, and the CPEC Secretariat were also present.

Prof. Iqbal emphasized the selection of participants with the highest potential to maximize the benefits of the training. The program is structured to foster significant knowledge transfer, with the initial phase involving the training of 300 professionals, followed by successive batches of 300 and 400. He highlighted the creation of a Project Management Unit within the implementing agency to oversee this crucial project.

The strategic importance of this initiative was underlined with the formation of a committee to monitor its progress, incorporating nominees from various governmental bodies. The committee is tasked with meeting bi-weekly to ensure effective implementation and resource allocation.