Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Board of Governor (BoG) on Thursday approved Rs 3.646 billion for the current financial year 2013-14 budget to meet its development and recurring expenditure.
Of Rs 3.646 billion budget approved by PARC's BoG, Rs 2373 million have been allocated for non-development expenditure with a grant of 10 percent Ad hoc Relief Allowance 2013 to the council employees, Rs 520.872 million would be spent on ongoing and new development projects, Rs 119.730 million for MoU Projects, Rs 162.198 million for Agriculture Linkage Programme (ALP) and Rs 70.772 million supplementary grant for current financial year, an official said.
He said that Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) and President of PARC BoG Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, presided over the 35th BoG meeting attended by the board members.
The official said that the minister while speaking at the meeting urged to re-organise PARC on modern lines particularly after devolution, as a number of functions have been devolved to the provinces. He asked PARC management to establish a "Talent Pool" of scientists to ensure continuity in transfer of knowledge and guide on all other aspects.
The minister during the meeting also said that under 18th Amendment there is a great responsibility on PARC to strengthen National Agricultural Research System (NARS) and its co-ordination mechanism. He said he is pleased to know that PARC has produced and distributed 70 tons quality seed of Wheat (NARC 2009 & 2011), 23 tons Canola (PARC Canola Hybrid) 21 tons of Oats (NARC Oat) and 4 tons of Lentil Markaz-09) through PATCO.
He stressed the PARC management to establish all type of plants nurseries particularly value addition horticulture crops. Olive cultivation should also be promoted to save foreign exchange. Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Chairman Dr Iftikhar Ahmad, briefed the meeting about PARC progress 2012-13, in-house research through technical divisions, ALP funded projects, PSDP funded ongoing, new and approved projects waiting for funding, MoUs signed with national partners, ongoing co-ordinated research project funded by CIMMYT, Pak-Italian Co-operation, ACIAR-ASLP, ICARDA, USDA, IFPRI, CDC and other international donors, SAARC development Forum, utilisation of research results, HRD, Establishment of new research institutes and re-organisation of research institutes, PARC independent Third Party Review, Business Plan 2013-18 and other important activities of the council.
Dr Munir Ahmad, Secretary and Member (Finance) presented PARC expenditure during 2012-12 and budget for 2013-14 along with supplementary grant. Other members Dr Nadeem Amjad, Member, Dr M Shahid Masood, Dr Muhammad Sharif, Dr Shahid Rafique, and Riaz Khan also briefed the progress and research priorities in their area. He said that Chief (Food & Agriculture) Planning Commission-GoP M Aslam Nadeem assured his full support to the MNFS&R for the initiation of different projects for development of agriculture and food security. Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) Seerat Asghar was also present on the occasion.
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