**PM Shehbaz Announces Initiative to Train 1,000 Agricultural Graduates in China**
**(Image is displayed here in the original article and would be included in the blog post.)**
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a significant new initiative on Monday to send 1,000 Pakistani agricultural graduates to China for advanced training.
The announcement came during the inauguration of the Aeroponics Complex for Potato Seed Production at the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) in Islamabad.
PM Shehbaz underscored the vital role of agriculture in Pakistan’s economy, noting that 65% of the population is involved in the sector. The initiative aims to equip agricultural graduates with cutting-edge skills and knowledge, driving agricultural development and innovation within Pakistan.
Under the program, graduates will receive specialized training in China, covering advanced agricultural techniques, modern farming practices, and the latest technologies. The goal is to provide these professionals with the expertise needed to address agricultural challenges, enhance productivity, and foster sustainable growth in Pakistan’s farming industry.
The Prime Minister also thanked South Korea for its support in establishing the Aeroponics Complex, recognizing the Republic of Korea as a key economic partner. He emphasized the importance of collaboration across various sectors to strengthen bilateral relations.
Further, PM Shehbaz highlighted the necessity of increasing per-acre yields for crucial crops like cotton and sugarcane and promoting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas.
In related news, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz recently launched the “Agriculture Tubewell Solarization” project in Lahore. This initiative promotes sustainable energy in agriculture by offering financial subsidies for solar system installations. The Punjab Government will provide subsidies of five lac rupees for a 10-kilowatt system, seven and a half lac rupees for a 15-kilowatt system, and ten lac rupees for a 20-kilowatt system. The project’s first phase will see 8,000 tube wells across the province selected via balloting for conversion to solar power.