LAHORE, Pakistan — October 7, 2026: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced expanded cooperation plans with Oman covering agriculture, fisheries, livestock and skilled workforce development, as the provincial government seeks to strengthen agricultural activity and improve employment opportunities for young people.
Maryam Nawaz discussed the plans during a meeting with Oman’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al Habsi, in Muscat on October 6. The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in agriculture, fisheries and livestock, according to an official statement reported by state media.
The discussions included opportunities to develop Punjab’s agricultural and livestock sectors while expanding commercial links between Punjab and Oman. The Omani minister also offered assistance in establishing Punjab’s first shrimp centre, potentially supporting the development of aquaculture in the province.
Focus on Agriculture and Livestock
The cooperation discussions come as Punjab continues to pursue programmes aimed at modernising farming, improving productivity and supporting farmers.
The provincial Agriculture Department lists several initiatives under the chief minister’s programmes, including the Kissan Card, Green Tractor Programme, high-tech farm mechanisation, water-efficient agriculture and an internship programme for agriculture graduates. The 2026-27 agriculture initiatives also include plans to deploy 3,000 agriculture graduates through the internship programme over two years.
Maryam Nawaz also offered to facilitate the export of quality meat from Punjab to Muscat at competitive international market rates. She said measures would be taken to increase livestock exports for milk and meat production.
Youth Skills and Employment
Youth skills development was another major part of the discussions. Maryam Nawaz said thousands of young people in Punjab had already received training aligned with market requirements and that skills programmes were being expanded to prepare young workers for local and international employment opportunities.
The Omani side indicated that skilled workers from Punjab could find opportunities in areas including construction, aquaculture, agriculture and other sectors. The Omani minister said demand for skilled workers remained high and that Pakistan’s young workforce had strong potential.
The focus on skills development also reflects wider efforts in Punjab to connect technical training with emerging economic sectors. In September, the Punjab Skills Development Fund and University of Agriculture Faisalabad discussed specialised training for youth and farmers in areas including seed technology, livestock management, irrigation, water management, climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy.
Wider Regional Cooperation
The Punjab government has also recently expanded agricultural cooperation beyond Oman. Earlier in October, Maryam Nawaz constituted a high-level committee to strengthen cooperation with Gilgit-Baltistan in agriculture, livestock and fisheries.
The committee is examining ways to introduce agricultural development models used in Punjab, improve technical capacity and establish cooperation on certification and market access. A memorandum of understanding between Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan is expected to formalise the cooperation.
The latest talks with Oman therefore form part of a broader push to connect Punjab’s agricultural development with technical expertise, international markets and employment opportunities.
For Punjab, the immediate focus will be on translating the proposed cooperation into practical programmes, including agricultural collaboration, aquaculture development, livestock exports and pathways for skilled workers to access overseas employment markets.
produced by mukarram ahmed
