Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif met with Oman’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources, Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al-Habsi in Muscat, it was reported on Tuesday.
Oman’s Minister Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al-Habsi extended a warm welcome to Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
Minister Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al-Habsi congratulated Maryam Nawaz Sharif on receiving the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award.
The meeting reviewed prospects for mutual cooperation between Punjab and Oman in the sectors of agriculture, fisheries, and water resources.
Agreement reached to enhance cooperation between the governments of Punjab and Oman in agriculture, fisheries, livestock, and other sectors.
Minister Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al-Habsi offered to establish the first shrimp center in Punjab.
Agreement reached on measures to increase the export of livestock for milk and meat.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif offered to export meat from Punjab to Muscat.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif proposed measures to lift the ban on the arrival of skilled workers from Punjab to Muscat.
Minister Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al-Habsi agreed to the proposal regarding lifting the visa ban.
Maryam Nawaz said thousands of young people in Punjab have received training aligned with market needs under the skill development programme.
She said Pakistan’s youth, comprising 65 percent of the population, are a valuable asset; they are being trained through skill development initiatives.
The exceptional talent of Pakistan’s youth is recognized worldwide, Maryam Nawaz said.
She said youth are being provided with technical training aligned with modern requirements across various sectors.
Maryam Nawaz said the construction of 200,000 to 250,000 houses under the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” initiative in Punjab is a game-changer for the housing sector.
She said people from other provinces come to Punjab in search of excellent employment opportunities and a bright future.
The progress achieved in fisheries and other sectors in Muscat, under the leadership of Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al-Habsi, is enviable, Maryam Nawaz said.
She said Punjab serves as the backbone of Pakistan’s agricultural economy.
An experimental shrimp farming programme, launched last year to promote aquaculture in Punjab, has met with success, Maryam Nawaz said.
She said trial shrimp farming is currently underway in the Shahgarh and Aliwala areas of Muzaffargarh, as well as in Sargodha.
Pakistan’s first state-of-the-art aquaculture mall and a shrimp diagnostic laboratory will be established in Shahgarh, Maryam Nawaz said.
She said aquaculture is being practiced in Punjab using modern machinery, following the models of countries like China, Norway, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Maryam Nawaz said plans are underway for shrimp farming across 30,000 acres in Punjab, including Bahawalpur.
We welcome Muscat’s cooperation in promoting aquaculture in Punjab, Maryam Nawaz said.
She said a request will be made to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif regarding the export of live livestock from Punjab to Muscat.
Punjab is ready to export high-quality meat to Muscat at competitive rates aligned with global market standards, Maryam Nawaz said.
Omani Minister Saud bin Hamood bin Ahmed Al-Habsi said there is a continued demand for skilled workers in Muscat and Pakistan’s youth possess exceptional, God-given talents.
We will apprise Punjab of the need for skilled workers across various sectors in Muscat, Saud bin Hamood bin Ahmed Al-Habsi concluded.
