Key Takeaways
- Oman agrees to consider Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s proposal to ease restrictions on skilled workers from Punjab.
- The Omani minister of agriculture and fisheries assured that skilled workers from Punjab would be welcomed in various sectors.
- Punjab plans to export high-quality meat and promote shrimp farming in collaboration with Oman.
Oman has agreed to consider a proposal by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to ease restrictions on the arrival of skilled workers from Punjab, according to a handout issued by the Punjab government.
During a meeting in Muscat, Oman’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed Al Habsi acknowledged the high demand for skilled labor in Oman and expressed confidence in the exceptional skills and talent of Pakistani youth.
The Omani minister assured that skilled workers from Punjab would be welcomed in sectors such as construction, aquaculture, agriculture, and other fields, and offered to share information about the demand for skilled workers in different sectors.
Maryam Nawaz proposed measures to lift restrictions on the arrival of skilled workers from Punjab, and the Omani minister agreed to consider the proposal, paving the way for potential easing of the ban.
Both sides also agreed to enhance cooperation between Punjab and Oman in agriculture, fisheries, and livestock, with the Omani minister offering assistance in establishing Punjab’s first shrimp center.
Maryam Nawaz highlighted Punjab’s efforts in promoting aquaculture, mentioning ongoing pilot shrimp-farming projects in Shah Garh and Ali Wala areas of Muzaffargarh, as well as Sargodha.
The provincial government is planning to establish a state-of-the-art aquaculture mall and shrimp diagnostic laboratory at Shah Garh, drawing on modern machinery and techniques from countries like China, Norway, Vietnam, Indonesia, and others.
Punjab aims to expand shrimp farming across 30,000 acres, including Bahawalpur, and plans to export high-quality meat to Oman at competitive international market rates.
Maryam Nawaz also proposed facilitating the export of live livestock from Punjab to Oman, emphasizing the province’s readiness to meet the needs of local and international job markets through skills development programs.
