Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Wednesday that Pakistan’s recent agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would not have been possible without the economic and diplomatic support expanded by China.
By tackling a ceremony in Islamabad for candidates elected to education in China, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Beijing described as Pakistan’s “most sincere friend” and credited the country to play a crucial role in stabilizing Pakistan’s fighting economy.
The Prime Minister recognized China’s continued financial partnership, especially and noted that one -year extension of a $ 2 billion refund last month, giving much needed relief to Pakistan’s currency reserves.
Pakistan secured a $ 7 billion Bailout package from the IMF from the IMF in September 2024 to avert a balance of payments. An agreement was reached at staff level in March 2025 after a successful review of the program’s first tranche, with China’s support seen as critical for the end of the agreement.
PM Shehbaz said China had consistently supported Pakistan’s economy through investments in infrastructure, energy and industrial projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which he again described as a “lifeline” of the country.
The Prime Minister confirmed his government’s obligation to review the agricultural sector, essentially called for national food security, increase export potential and improve rural livelihoods.
As part of a government initiative to strengthen the sector, 1,000 Pakistani agricultural educators will receive education in China in modern agricultural techniques, digital crop management and climate resilient practice. The first group of 300 candidates is set to depart for a three-month program, followed by two additional batches in phase training over the next year.
During the event, Sharif congratulated the outgoing students and expressed hope that their education would directly contribute to agricultural innovation and productivity when they return.
Chinese ambassador Jiang Zaidong, who also attended the ceremony, praised Pakistan’s financial progress in the past year and confirmed Peking’s obligation to bilateral cooperation. He said China would continue to work closely with Pakistan, especially with modernizing his agricultural sector.
Jiang said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has paid great attention to Pakistan’s development and the long -standing partnership between the two nations.
