107 Sindh Agriculture Trainees Briefed Ahead of China Training Programme

Islamabad, October 19, 2026: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan organised an orientation and pre-departure ceremony for 107 agricultural trainees from Sindh who are set to proceed to China for a three-month specialised training programme at Northwest A&F University, Xi’an.

The training is being held under the Prime Minister’s Initiative for Short-Term Training of 1,000 Pakistani Agricultural Professionals.

Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Ms. Wajiha Qamar attended the ceremony as chief guest. Executive Director HEC Dr. Zia Ul Haq, Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Dr. Shahzad Naveed, and other notables were also present on the occasion.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Zia Ul Haq said the initiative holds special importance as it is helping strengthen agricultural cooperation between Pakistan and China. He said the programme is enabling Pakistani professionals to gain advanced knowledge and practical skills in key areas of agriculture.

He informed the participants that 885 agricultural professionals from across the provinces had already completed training at five Chinese institutions under their respective provincial quotas and had returned to Pakistan.

Dr. Zia said Sindh’s quota had initially faced the possibility of remaining unutilised because of the limited availability of candidates who met the prescribed eligibility criteria. However, he said, the Prime Minister took a special step to ensure that Sindh’s allocated quota remained reserved for eligible Sindh-domiciled candidates.

He added that, in line with the Prime Minister’s directive, a crash course was conducted at Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, to prepare candidates for the required assessment. After the local training and assessment process, 107 eligible trainees completed the necessary formalities and are now proceeding to China, he said.

Addressing the gathering, Ms. Wajiha Qamar underlined the significance of Pakistan-China collaboration in agricultural education, research, innovation and technology transfer. She said investment in professional training is vital for modernising Pakistan’s agriculture sector, improving productivity and strengthening national food security.

The Minister of State urged the trainees to acquire practical expertise during their stay in China and apply their learning after returning to Pakistan to help address challenges facing the agriculture sector.

During the orientation session, the trainees were briefed on travel arrangements, institutional requirements, training expectations and their responsibilities during their stay in China. The session also stressed that the participants are expected to transfer the knowledge and skills gained in China to Pakistan’s agriculture sector through research, technology adoption, professional training and farmer outreach.

Under the programme, the trainees will receive three months of hands-on training at Northwest A&F University in nine priority areas covering modern agricultural technologies and practices. These include farm mechanisation, crop improvement, seed production and processing, artificial intelligence and digital agriculture, livestock development, aquaculture, efficient irrigation, and fruits and vegetables processing.

The initiative reflects the Government of Pakistan’s commitment to investing in agricultural human capital, inclusive capacity-building, provincial equity and sustainable agricultural development.