Omani minister greets CM on winning UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had meeting with Oman’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al Habsi in Muscat.
Oman’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al Habsi warmly welcomed Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and congratulated her on receiving the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award.
The meeting reviewed prospects for cooperation between Punjab and Oman in agriculture, fisheries and water resources. It was agreed to enhance cooperation between the governments of Punjab and Oman in agriculture, fisheries, livestock and other sectors.
Minister Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al Habsi 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.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif offered to export meat from Punjab to Muscat. She also 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.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said thousands of young people in Punjab had already received training according to market requirements under the Skill Development Programme. She said 65 percent of Pakistan’s population comprised youth, describing them as a valuable national asset. The youth were being provided training through skill development programmes.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the exceptional talent of Pakistani youth was recognised worldwide. Young people were being provided technical and vocational training in line with modern requirements in various sectors, while millions of young people in Punjab were being equipped with skills according to the requirements of the local job market.
The chief minister said former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had termed her visit to Oman a matter of good fortune while seeing her off for Muscat.
“My father, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Sahib, told me that I was fortunate. He said that despite serving as Prime Minister three times, he could not visit Muscat,” she said.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the construction of 200,000 to 250,000 houses under the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar programme was a game changer in the housing sector. People from other provinces were coming to Punjab in search of better employment opportunities and a brighter future.
The chief minister appreciated the development achieved in fisheries and other sectors in Muscat under the leadership of Minister Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al Habsi.
She said Punjab was the backbone of Pakistan’s agricultural economy.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the pilot programme for shrimp farming launched last year to promote aquaculture in Punjab had proved successful. Trial shrimp farming was being carried out in 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.
She said modern machinery was being used for aquaculture in Punjab on the pattern of China, Norway, Vietnam and Indonesia. Planning was underway for shrimp farming on 30,000 acres across Punjab, including Bahawalpur.
The chief minister welcomed cooperation from Muscat for the promotion of aquaculture in Punjab.
She said the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would be requested to facilitate the export of live 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.
Oman’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al Habsi welcomed Punjab’s first woman Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to Muscat.
He said the demand for skilled workers continued in Muscat and Pakistani youth possessed exceptional talent and capabilities.
He said Oman would inform Punjab about the requirements for skilled workers in different sectors in Muscat. He said skilled workers from Punjab would be welcomed in construction, aquaculture, agriculture and other sectors.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026