ISLAMABAD
Pakistan is seeking to secure Chinese technical expertise in buffalo genetics and molecular biology to address domestic food security and modernise its agricultural exports, Pakistani ambassador to China said.
Ambassador Khalil Hashmi said, while speaking at the International Rural Innovation and Development (IRID) Expo 2026 in China’s Hefei, Gwadar Pro reported. He invited Chinese firms and research institutions to partner with Pakistan on high-yield hybrid seeds and climate-resilient farming techniques.
“We are prioritising digital agriculture and the revitalisation of our rural economy,” Hashmi told delegates at the Global Summit on Sustainable Agriculture (GSSA) Forum. He specifically identified livestock genetics—aimed at boosting dairy and meat output—and the development of advanced wheat molecular biology as critical pillars for bilateral cooperation.
The ambassador also highlighted the potential for value-added industrial investment, citing polylactic acid (PLA) production as a strategic interest. This technology, which converts agricultural surpluses such as corn into biodegradable plastics, was a focal point of a diplomatic tour of the Anhui BBCA Biochemical Complex, which maintains an annual capacity of 40,000 tonnes.
Hashmi further proposed the establishment of a dedicated agriculture sub-forum at future IRID editions and invited the GSSA secretariat to host its next global summit in Pakistan to facilitate direct engagement between Chinese investors and Pakistani stakeholders.
Balochistan to provide subsidised fibreglass boats to Gwadar fishermen
The Balochistan Fisheries Department has announced the distribution of 92 modern fibreglass boats to low-income fishermen in Gwadar under a provincial subsidy programme, officials said.
The 24-foot vessels, part of the “Green Fibreglass Boats Scheme,” are equipped with 85-90 horsepower engines and modern insulated holds designed to preserve catch quality and reduce spoilage, according to a report carried by Gwadar Pro.
Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch, a member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Gwadar, was briefed on the initiative during a visit to the Surbandar fisheries office. Fisheries officials stated that the total cost for each boat is set at 5.295 million rupees ($19,000). Under the scheme’s terms, the Balochistan government will cover 90 per cent of the cost.
Registered fishermen are required to pay the remaining 10 per cent—approximately 529,500 rupees—through instalments over a four-year period. “This scheme is an important step towards improving the economic conditions of the coastal fishing community and will help modernise the fisheries sector,” Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman said.
The distribution will be conducted through a transparent balloting process overseen by a committee led by the Director General of Fisheries. Quotas have been allocated based on the number of registered fishermen in various coastal districts, with six boats specifically reserved for the Surbandar area.
Authorities have urged eligible fishermen to submit applications at their respective Fisheries Assistant Director offices within the specified timeframe. A field survey for the upgrade of Pakistan’s Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project has commenced on the Karachi-Rohri section, Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said.
The minister described the survey as a critical phase in the modernisation of the country’s national rail infrastructure. Teams from the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) are currently conducting detailed assessments of land, crops, trees, and existing structures along the route.
Abbasi said this data would ensure a transparent compensation process for project-affected persons.”The public is requested to fully cooperate with the survey teams and utilise the provided contact numbers to lodge any complaints with the project directors in Karachi and Sukkur,” the minister said in a statement. The ML-1 project is expected to increase train speeds, enhance passenger facilities, and provide a stimulus to the national economy, he added.
The project reached a policy milestone in October 2025 when the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) referred the preliminary designs and the 16.26 billion rupee ($58 million) Havelian Dry Port project to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval. The upgrades are being executed under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
