Pakistan and Italy have signed a Rs6.3 billion concessional loan agreement to strengthen agricultural skills, vocational education, and rural development under Pakistan’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) National Reform Programme. The initiative marks a major step toward modernizing Pakistan’s agriculture sector through advanced training, innovation, and international cooperation.
The agreement was signed in Islamabad by Economic Affairs Secretary Muhammad Humair Karim and Italian Ambassador Marilina Armellin, in the presence of senior officials from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, and provincial agriculture departments.
The funding will support the Professional Capacity Building and Extension in Agriculture Project, a comprehensive 42-month programme designed to improve Pakistan’s agricultural workforce by enhancing technical skills, upgrading certification standards, and promoting innovation throughout agricultural value chains.
Under the project, farmers, extension workers, trainers, and other stakeholders will receive demand-driven vocational training aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, encouraging sustainable farming methods, and improving rural livelihoods across the country.
A key objective of the programme is to strengthen Pakistan’s high-value agriculture sector. Dedicated training centres will be established for horticulture production, food processing, and agricultural marketing, while encouraging product diversification and value addition to increase farmers’ profitability.
The training programme will cover several high-value crops, including olives, pistachios, dates, mushrooms, cherries, grapes, peaches, and almonds. Italy will provide technical expertise in modern agricultural practices, helping Pakistan adopt advanced farming techniques and improve crop quality.
The initiative plans to deliver 720 specialized training courses benefiting approximately 18,398 participants, including farmers, women, youth, agriculture professionals, and trainers. Additionally, 11 standardized training curricula will be developed to improve the quality and consistency of agricultural education across Pakistan.
The infrastructure component of the project includes the establishment of 12 model orchards and nurseries, eight eco-villages equipped with climate-resilient farming technologies, five agro-food processing units, and two National Centres of Excellence dedicated to citrus and date production in Sargodha and Turbat.
The project will be implemented by the Pakistan Oilseed Department in partnership with provincial agriculture departments. Officials expect the initiative to generate rural employment opportunities, increase farmers’ incomes, reduce post-harvest losses, strengthen farmer cooperatives, and improve the global competitiveness of Pakistan’s agriculture sector.
According to government officials, the agreement reflects the longstanding development partnership between Pakistan and Italy. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture, technical education, skills development, food security, and inclusive economic growth through stronger bilateral cooperation.
With modern farming techniques, improved vocational education, and enhanced agricultural infrastructure, the project is expected to play a vital role in transforming Pakistan’s agriculture sector while empowering thousands of farmers and young professionals with future-ready skills.
