Veteran businessman and former Finance Minister Syed Babar Ali said that although Pakistan is fifth largest milk producing country across the globe, but it was obtaining only 2,500 litre of milk per animal in annum compared to minimum 18,000 litre of milk per animal in developed nations.
Addressed the gathering of University of Agriculture, Faisalabad students at Iqbal Auditorium, he called for adopting modern practices by raising the net of skilled labour in order to increasing per animal production and to fulfil the dream of prosperity in the country. He said that the country is blessed with four season, best crops and largest canal system but we have to go long way to achieve the goal of development. He said that major milk companies were putting 40 billion to the pocket of the farmer in Punjab which he termed landmark achievement.
He stressed the need to produce skilled manpower, which are committed to excelling in their fields with an ambition to give their share in the development of the country. Talking about tomato, he said that Pakistan is importing 2,000 trucks of tomato from India, putting a question mark on the performance of agricultural scientists. He urged the scientists to put their full efforts for the food security of the country. He said that it is the need of the hour to bring best brains to the teaching profession in a bid to produce quality manpower. He said that total area of citrus in Pakistan is 198,400 but we are still lagging behind because of traditional breeds of the fruit. He urged the UAF to emerge a centre of citrus exploring in the country so that Pakistan can get benefit from it. He stressed the need to produce best pulp of mangoes which is in the high demand across the globe in order to earning heavy foreign exchange.
Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said as around 13,000 students are studying at the campus while the number was only 900 in 1961 when it was elevated to the status of university. He said that the university has produced 895 PhDs, more than 25,800 postgraduates and thousands of graduates since 1961, who are rendering their services for the development of the country.
He said that the university has set up Women Complex and Women Medical Centre in order to facilitating the women at the campus. He said that university would have six lecture theatres keeping in view increasing enrolment of the students. Talking about the university relations with the world, the university has inked 73 memoranda of understanding with the world.
Apart from it, the university also enjoys good relations as it has signed 52 with national organisations. Professor Dr Muhammad Sarwar, Dean, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, said disease statistics is affecting 20 percent of dairy animals while Foot and Mouth Disease caused six billion's loss to the sector.
He called for taking measures in this regard. He also pointed out that the number of good animals is also decreasing and this trend must be curtailed. Public Relations and Publications Principal Officer Professor Dr Jalal Arif, Soil Scientist Dr Rasheed Ahmad, Professor Dr Malik Aman Ullah, Professor Dr Jafar Jaskani and PRP Assistant Director Syed Qamar Bukhari also spoke.
Comments
Comments are closed.