Pakistan, Italy sign $21.6mln concessional loan agreement

ROME: Pakistan and Italy have signed a $21.6 million concessional loan agreement aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s agriculture sector through technical and vocational training.

The agreement was signed by Secretary Economic Affairs Muhammad Humair Karim and the Italian Ambassador.

According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the project will enhance technical and vocational training in the agriculture sector to improve productivity and rural livelihoods.

Training centres will be established for horticulture production, processing and marketing, with a focus on crops including olives, pistachios, dates, cherries and others.

The programme will combine Italian agricultural expertise with Pakistan’s farming potential to modernise the sector.

A total of 720 training courses will be conducted, benefiting 18,398 people, the ministry said.

In addition, 11 standard training curricula will be developed for the agriculture sector.

Twelve model orchards and nurseries will be set up across the country.

Eight climate-resilient eco-friendly villages will also be established under the project.

The initiative also includes five agricultural processing units and two national centres.

National centres for citrus production in Sargodha and date production in Turbat will also be established.