Pakistan, China Strengthen Agriculture Cooperation to Boost Trade and Productivity
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday emphasized the immense untapped potential of Pakistan’s agriculture sector, saying it could be transformed within months through modern technology, improved productivity, and closer cooperation with China.
Speaking at the Pakistan–China Agri Investment Conference, the prime minister highlighted that nearly 65% of Pakistan’s population lives in rural areas and that agriculture remains the backbone of the national economy. He stressed the importance of improving per-acre yields, implementing efficient water management, and optimizing land use, while developing value chains, cold storage, warehousing, and value-added products to make Pakistani agricultural produce globally competitive.
Shehbaz Sharif underscored the need for coordinated efforts among the federal and provincial governments, farmers, scientists, and researchers to achieve sustainable growth in the sector. He praised China’s continued support, noting the dispatch of 1,000 Pakistani graduates to leading Chinese agricultural universities and research centers, whose expertise would now help local farmers enhance quality, productivity, and value addition.
The prime minister also highlighted China’s achievements in agriculture, IT, artificial intelligence, and manufacturing efficiency, stressing that Pakistan must aim to generate a trade surplus in agriculture with competitive costs and superior quality, supported by Chinese expertise.
China’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, said the country seeks to increase bilateral agricultural trade to $1 billion while maintaining Pakistan’s trade surplus. He praised Pakistan’s recent economic growth, noting improvements in key indicators such as inflation and exports, and reaffirmed China’s commitment to technology-driven agricultural cooperation.
Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain said Pakistan remained fully committed to creating an investor-friendly environment for Chinese enterprises, particularly in agriculture and food security. He added that the government’s goal is to make Pakistan a destination where Chinese investors can grow, innovate, and succeed alongside local partners.
The conference also reiterated hopes for President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan and highlighted plans for CPEC 2.0, focusing on agriculture, IT, artificial intelligence, mines and minerals, and youth development.
