'Pakistan, China ties help ensure food security in region'

Better ties between China and Pakistan in agriculture and education sectors will help ensure the food security and alleviate the poverty from the region. It was discussed at the meeting held between UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan and a four-member Chinese delegation from the Xingjiang Agriculture University, China.
The delegation was head by Vice President of the Varsity Gao Fashui, the other members included Director Foreign Affairs Keremu Yili, Deputy Dean Food Sciences College Yang Zhi Jiang and Deputy Dean College of International Education Zhang Jian Lei.
UAF all senior management were present on the occasion. The meeting decided to collaborate in students exchange programmes, to work together in the areas of agriculture, energy, livestock climate changes and others areas. The meeting also give a nod to set up the Confucius Centre here in order to enhance the bilateral relations in cultural, education and other sectors.
Gao Fashui assured the UAF of Xingjiang Agriculture University full co-operation as a step towards cope with different agricultural challenge. He said that joint efforts would become fruitful for the flourishing the sector. He said that environmental sciences, livestock, climate changes, energy and agriculture are the areas to be addressed.
The Vice Chancellor said that the food security is one of the major concerns for the globe. He lauded the steps being taken on the part of China to flourish not only in the industry and agriculture but also on the all areas of the life. He said the collaborative efforts with the counterpart will help increase the agrarian production. Talking about the challenges facing Pakistan, he said ever increasing population is also contribution to the aggravating food insecurity issue. Pakistan population is touching the 200 million, which is five time fold of the population at the time of inception in 1947.
He said that the lack of the adoption of the latest practice was the barrier to the uplift of agricultural sector, hampering getting advantage from the potential. He lauded the steps being taken by the government for the uplift of the agricultural sector here. Later, the Vice Chancellor along with delegation inaugurated the Academia- Industry Linkage and Learning Centre set up at the main campus in collaboration with Seminis-Monsanto.