Punjab to have robotic farm equipment manufacturing plant

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz spent a productive day in Beijing on Monday, focusing on key initiatives to enhance Punjab’s agriculture, environmental sustainability, and healthcare sectors.

The chief minister’s efforts to promote agriculture and improve farmers’ lives culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Chinese company AI Force Tech and the Punjab Agriculture Department. This agreement will establish a robotic agricultural equipment manufacturing plant in Punjab.

During her meeting with AI Force Tech founder Dr. Han and its CEO, the chief minister elaborated on the reforms in Punjab’s agriculture sector. She inspected cutting-edge robotic agricultural tools and assured the company of her government’s full support in setting up the manufacturing facility.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed her determination to revolutionise Punjab’s agriculture sector: “It is our commitment to making farmers prosperous by adopting modern agricultural technology.” She announced that a delegation from AI Force Tech would visit Punjab soon to advance this collaboration.

The chief minister also visited the Blue Tech Clean Air Alliance, where she met with Chairman Zi Hongsheng to discuss innovative methods to combat air pollution and address climate change. She highlighted her government’s ongoing initiatives to reduce pollution in Punjab, which received commendation from the Chinese side.

An MoU was signed between the Punjab Environment Department and the Blue Tech Clean Air Alliance to collaborate on environmental improvement projects in the province. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also explored advancements in cancer treatment during her visit. She met with Dr. Liu Fuliang, President of Hygea Medical Technologies, to discuss state-of-the-art interventional oncology methods. The company, renowned for its innovative cancer treatment technologies, presented a briefing on procedures like tumour freezing and heating, which have successfully treated over 10,000 patients in China.

The chief minister announced plans to introduce these technologies at Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital in Punjab, enabling non-invasive treatment options that eliminate the need for surgery or chemotherapy.

“The Hygea method of treatment offers a revolutionary approach to cancer care, ensuring a higher recovery rate and minimal discomfort for patients,” she said, appreciating the success of the technology in over 100 hospitals across 25 Chinese provinces.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s initiatives in Beijing mark significant progress in agriculture, environmental management, anti-corruption, and healthcare for Punjab, reinforcing her commitment to the province’s development and prosperity.

Meanwhile, on the Anti-Corruption Day, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz underscored the importance of eliminating corruption for national development. In her message, she said: “Corruption reflects not only a moral decline but is also a killer of a nation’s development. It damages national resources and erodes public trust. A zero-tolerance policy against corruption has been adopted from day one.”

She emphasised strict measures to combat corruption, the introduction of KPIs to ensure transparency and accountability, and the resultant improvements in public service efficiency. “Our goal is a corruption-free, developed, and prosperous Punjab,” she affirmed, urging every individual to contribute to cleansing society of corruption.