Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday had a meeting with Oman's Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al Habsi in Muscat. Saud warmly welcomed Maryam and congratulated her on receiving the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour award. It was agreed to enhance cooperation between the governments of Punjab and Oman in agriculture, fisheries, livestock and other sectors.
Saud offered to establish the first shrimp centre in Punjab. The meeting also agreed to take measures to increase exports of livestock for milk and meat production. Maryam offered to export meat from Punjab to Muscat.
She proposed measures to lift restrictions on the arrival of skilled workers from Punjab in Muscat. The Omani minister agreed to the proposal for lifting visa restrictions. Maryam said thousands of young people in Punjab had already received training according to market requirements under the Skill Development Programme.
She said 65 per cent of Pakistan's population comprised youths, describing them as a valuable national asset. She said Punjab was the backbone of Pakistan's agricultural economy. A pilot programme for shrimp farming launched last year to promote aquaculture in Punjab proved successful.
Trial shrimp farming is being carried out in the Shah Garh and Ali Wala areas of Muzaffargarh as well as in Sargodha. She said Pakistan's first state-of-the-art Aquaculture Mall and Shrimp Diagnostic Laboratory would be established at Shah Garh. Modern machinery is being used for aquaculture in Punjab on the pattern of China, Norway, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Planning is underway for shrimp farming on 30,000 acres across Punjab, including Bahawalpur. She welcomed cooperation from Muscat for the promotion of aquaculture in Punjab. She said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would be requested to facilitate the export of livestock from Punjab to Muscat.
"Punjab is ready to export high-quality meat to Muscat at competitive prices in line with the international market," she said. Saud said the demand for skilled workers continued in Muscat and Pakistani youths possessed exceptional talent and capabilities. He said Oman would inform Punjab about the requirements for skilled workers in different sectors in Muscat.
Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday lauded the security forces for a successful operation in North Waziristan in which five terrorists were killed.