Pakistan’s Punjab province has signed an MoU with Chinese firm AI Force Tech to establish a robotic agricultural equipment manufacturing plant, state media reported on December 10.
Robotic farming equipment
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, visiting China from December 8-15, witnessed the signing and discussed agriculture reforms with company officials. During her visit, Sharif inspected robotic agricultural tools, assuring full government support for their local production.
“It is our determination to make farmers prosperous by adopting modern agricultural technology,” she said, as quoted by APP. She added that AI Force Tech would soon send a delegation to Punjab on her invitation.
In August, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted Pakistan’s interest in leveraging China’s expertise in agricultural modernization. Speaking in Xi’an, a city renowned for its industrial and agricultural development, he expressed enthusiasm for learning from China’s advanced agricultural facilities.
“Looking forward to learning about China’s agricultural modernization and innovation… keen to explore new avenues of cooperation to enhance Pakistan’s food productivity and quality,” he posted on X.
Additionally, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal announced in September that Pakistan would send 1,000 agricultural experts to China for training. This initiative aims to modernize Pakistan’s agriculture sector through expertise and innovation.
Agriculture, contributing 24% to Pakistan’s GDP and employing half its labor force, is vital to the country’s economy, per the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Amid an economic crisis, Pakistan aims to boost agricultural productivity and exports to generate foreign exchange.
‘Beijing Punjab Clean Air’ joint working group
Pakistani and Chinese officials agreed to constitute Beijing-Punjab Clean Air Working Group work closely for these area: biodiversity, smog eradication, wildlife, plantation and an advanced air quality management system.
Both sides agreed to develop an advanced air quality management system in Punjab with the cooperation of China. They also agreed to improve exchanges on environmental sciences, policy coordination, capacity building, data monitoring and sharing, green urban planning, technology transfer.
Punjab CM also met Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment of China. Maryam told Huang that “We want to adopt China’s modern environmental models to deal with environmental changes in Punjab.”
Clean energy
Punjab Chief Minister also visited Jinko Solar Company in Shanghai and offered to establish a manufacturing plant in Punjab. She directed the relevant authorities of Punjab government to take necessary steps for setting up the solar manufacturing plant in the province.
MoUs signed
Maryam Nawaz Sharif finalized these key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during her visit to China.
- The first MoU was signed between the Punjab Agriculture Department and Chinese firm AI Force Tech to establish a robotic agricultural equipment manufacturing plant in Punjab.
- The second agreement involved the Punjab Environment Department partnering with Blue Tech Clean Air Alliance. The collaboration focuses on improving environmental conditions across Punjab, reflecting the government’s commitment to sustainable development.
- Another MoU was signed with Hygeia Medical Technologies during Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s meeting with Hygeia President Lu Fu Liang in Beijing. Hygeia Healthcare is the largest oncology healthcare group in China. This partnership will result in Punjab government procuring machinery and advanced cancer treatment equipment from China for the first public-sector cancer hospital in Lahore