American Consul General in Lahore Zachary Harkenrider and University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Vice Chancellor Talat Naseer Pasha opened a Centre for Applied Policy Research in Livestock on Monday. The centre was established with support from the United States Agency for International Development-(USAID) funded Punjab Enabling Environment Project to promote policy and institutional reforms through evidence-based research to develop the livestock and dairy sectors in the Punjab.
Consul General Harkenrider said the centre would bring the best ideas from the laboratory and the classroom into the public policy arena, encourage economic growth, create jobs, spur investment, increase exports and deliver clear benefits for farmers and agricultural businesses across Pakistan.
"Through this partnership, the project has provided in-kind support and technical assistance to set up the centre at the university. The Centre for Applied Policy Research in Livestock aims to support policy makers, potential investors, and interest groups by providing input based on research to formulate effective policies, laws, regulations and standards for livestock and dairy sectors in Punjab. Such conducive polices prove to be instrumental in accelerating the reforms process, which involves introducing new and updating existing policies in light of a rapidly changing economy and transformation of businesses resulting from mega trends," he added.
Vice Chancellor Pasha said, "This collaboration will open doors for new policy research initiatives in the livestock and dairy sectors. The research conducted by the centre will be demand-driven, holistic and in line with industry needs to help leverage economic benefits for Punjab. The research findings and inputs on various policy interventions will be helpful to policy makers for policy and institutional reforms that can in turn stimulate investments in the province."
It is understood that the $14.98 million project is for five years, which is strengthening the livestock, dairy and horticulture sectors of the Punjab by influencing policy and regulatory reforms through private sector-led advocacy. These reforms are expected to spur investment and create jobs. Through this project, the USAID is increasing the institutional capacity of policy influencers in the public and private sector, so that they may provide quality policy inputs to the Punjab government.
Those also attending the opening were USAID Punjab Provincial Director Miles Toder, Centre for Applied Policy Research in Livestock Director Rana Ayub and USAID PEEP Chief of Party Muhammad Junaid.
Comments
Comments are closed.