Oman to ease visas for Pak workers

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif met Oman's Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al Habsi in Muscat, who congratulated her on receiving the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award.

The CM proposed measures to lift restrictions on the arrival of skilled workers from Punjab in Muscat and the Omani minister agreed to the proposal for lifting visa restrictions.

It was agreed during the meeting to enhance cooperation between the governments of Punjab and Oman in agriculture, fisheries, livestock and other sectors.

Minister Al Habsi offered to establish the first shrimp centre in Punjab. The leaders agreed to take measures to increase exports of livestock for milk and meat production.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz offered to export meat from Punjab to Muscat.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said thousands of young people in Punjab had received training as per market requirements under a skill development programme. She said 65 per cent of Pakistan's population comprised youth, describing them as a valuable national asset. They are being provided skills development training.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz 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, with millions in Punjab being equipped with skills according to the requirements of the local job market.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz 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, she added.

The chief minister appreciated the development achieved in fisheries and other sectors in Oman. ul She said Punjab was the backbone of Pakistan's agricultural economy.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said a pilot programme for shrimp farming launched last year to promote aquaculture in Punjab had proved successful.

Shrimp farming is being carried out on a trial basis in the 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 is under way for shrimp farming on 30,000 acres across Punjab, including Bahawalpur.

The chief minister welcomed cooperation from Oman for the promotion of aquaculture in Punjab.

She said Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif would be requested to facilitate the export of 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 said the demand for skilled workers continued and Pakistani youth possessed exceptional talent and capabilities.

He said Oman would inform Punjab about the requirements for skilled workers in different sectors.

He said skilled workers from Punjab would be welcomed in the construction, aquaculture, agriculture and other sectors.