Omani minister greets CM on winning UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award

Oman's Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al Habsi, warmly greeted Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in Muscat. The two leaders discussed prospects for collaboration between Punjab and Oman in agriculture, fisheries and water resources, with an agreement to boost cooperation across these sectors.

Minister Al Habsi proposed establishing Oman's first shrimp center in Punjab, while the chief minister expressed willingness to export meat from Punjab to Muscat. The Omani minister agreed to lift visa restrictions, enabling Pakistani youth to work in Muscat in various industries. Chief Minister Nawaz Sharif highlighted the success of her Skill Development Programme, which had trained thousands of young people in line with market demands.

She also noted that 65% of Pakistan's population was composed of youth, emphasizing their potential as a national asset. Under the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar programme, Punjab aimed to construct 200,000 to 250,000 houses, attracting residents from other regions. The chief minister commended Oman's progress in fisheries and other sectors during her visit.

She commended the shrimp farming pilot project in Punjab, which was expected to lead to the construction of a state-of-the-art Aquaculture Mall and Shrimp Diagnostic Laboratory in Shah Garh. The chief minister invited Muscat to cooperate in promoting aquaculture in Punjab, and assured the export of high-quality meat from Punjab at competitive international prices.