FROM MENAHILL RASHID
FAISALABAD: Former President Azad Jammu and Kashmir/ Pakistan Ambassador to US Sardar Masood Khan has said that it is an era of technological revolutions and we have to invest in new technologies and universities in order to compete with the rest of the world.
He addressed the University of Agriculture Faisalabad faculty members at the New Senate Hall. He said that UAF has the great history from colonial era and it proved as instrumental in steering Green Revolution in 1960, and 1970. “I am happy to know that you are investing in innovative technologies and coming up with cutting edge technologies and great outreach.”
He said agriculture is the key all development and that is directly linked to economic uplift and poverty alleviation. He said: “agriculture is the backbone of our economy and you (UAF faculty) are backbone to the scientific and academic support for the sector you have crucial role to play”, he added.
Sardar Masood Khan lauded the UAF for being connected across the globe with the academic and research institutions in different countries including USA, China, Germany, Australia, and south Korea etc. He said that he will make efforts to further strengthen UAF ties with US educational institutions including UC Davis, Washington State University and others in order to open new avenue of joint work with US. It will help address the agricultural challenges, make the development and ensure food security. He lauded the efforts of UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan and his connectivity skills for establishing ties at and government level and universities at national and international level.
He said that we have to prepare the younger generation for future as 64 percent of our populations was below 30 years. You have to teach them to reach the destination. He said that by 2030, it is expected that country populations can touch to 260 million. And agricultural scientists should enhance their efforts to ensure the food for them. He said that we have to make the efforts to switch off from negative feedback about Pakistan. We are the great and talented nation. Pakistan is the hub for regional prosperity. We have to turn the challenges into the opportunities and emerge as the great nation on the piece of the earth. We have to provide kind of confidence / aspiration to the youth. He said that we have provided them a right kind of environment. Their performance will mind-blowing.
He invited to come at UC Davis for the collaborative initiatives which were planned by Governor Punjab for research collaboration between both universities.
UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that 30 new varieties of wheat were being tested in UAF in collaboration with the Washington State University that has the potential to increase the average 60 mounds. He said that the UAF was housing a USAID Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security that has made the marvelous contribution for agricultural development in academia, research and outreach. He said that the CAS was having the latest research facilities to promote the research on precision agriculture, policy, climate changes, curriculum reforms and bio technology. Member Science Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Islamabad , Dr Masood Iqbal also spoke.
