LAHORE: The newly-appointed Consul General of China in Lahore, Sun Yan, said on Wednesday that the Chinese experts will provide technical support to address challenges faced by the agriculture sector of the Punjab due to climate change. He added that China would fully cooperate with the government of Punjab to promote smart agriculture, noting that collaboration with Punjab’s agriculture sector is among his key priorities.
He was speaking during his visit to the Agriculture House Punjab where he held an important meeting with Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani. Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, and Secretary Livestock, Ahmed Aziz Tarar, Director General Agriculture (Information) Punjab, Naveed Asmat Kahloon, along with officers from relevant departments, also attended the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Provincial Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani stated that, under the leadership of the Chief Minister Punjab, multiple initiatives are being implemented to enhance agricultural productivity. He further highlighted that interest-free loans exceeding Rs200 billion are being extended to 800,000 farmers through the Kisan Card which is facilitating the purchase of agricultural inputs and positively impacting per-acre crop yields. He added that the current government has allocated Rs66 billion to promote mechanization in the agriculture sector.
The Minister further shared that, under a one-window solution for farmers, four Agri Malls are currently operational, while 10 more are under construction. To combat smog, 10,000 super seeders are being provided on subsidy. He emphasized the need for China’s cooperation in addressing barriers to frozen meat exports and informed that eight compartments have been established in the livestock sector for foot-and-mouth disease-free animals.
He also noted that the Agriculture Transformation Plan, introduced on the directions of the Chief Minister Punjab, is receiving a strong and encouraging response from farmers.
Iftikhar Ali Sahoo stated that during his visit to China, the Chief Minister reviewed agricultural machinery manufacturing facilities. He further noted that a high-level delegation of the Agriculture Department, led by the Provincial Minister for Agriculture, visited China in October 2025, during which seven important Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed, and implementation on all agreements is currently underway. He emphasized the need for continued support from the Consulate General in Lahore to expedite progress. He further highlighted the importance of China’s cooperation in cotton seed research and germplasm development. Secretary Livestock & Dairy Development Punjab, Ahmed Aziz Tarar, also briefed the participants on departmental initiatives.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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