A four-member delegation from the Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute (PRFRI), Guangzhou, China, visited the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore on Friday and discussed progress on their collaboration in fisheries sector in a meeting with Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Talat Naseer Pasha and senior professors.
The delegation comprised PRFRI Director General Liu Yingjie, Dr Xinping Zhu, Director Scientific Officer Cunbin Shi and Researcher Ms Xi Yan while Dean Faculty of Fisheries and Wildlife Professor Dr Muhammad Ashraf, Deans Veterinary Science Professor Dr Khusi Muhammad, Dean Biosciences Professor Dr Habib-ur-Rehman, Chairman Microbiology Department Professor Masood Rabbani, Director Oric Professor Dr Mansur Din and Dr Noor Khan were also present.
The Vice-Chancellor briefed the delegation on the academic, research and training programmes of the UVAS. He said that university is focusing on problem-oriented applied research. Presently the UVAS faculty members are working on 64 research projects worth Rs 734 million won from national and international funding agencies. He said that the university is offering postgraduate MPhil and PhD programs in 31 disciplines besides its graduate and under-graduate degree courses. He said that the UVAS is promoting linkages with international institutions for quality education and research. He said that university wants to initiate more joint programmes with the Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute to benefit from the Chinese expertise. He said that the UVAS has taken many academic and research initiatives for the development of fisheries sector. He said that it is moving towards intensive culture system of fish and encouraging private sector for investment on this sector. The delegation also discussed with the UVAS professors the possibilities of intensive fish culture, site requirements, feasibility studies, investigation of local turtle resources and possible locations for turtle culture and future planning.
A UVAS delegation of professors will visit China in near future to have more discussions on joint programmes. Two UVAS faculty members are also scheduled to go to China early next year for Postdoctoral training under this project. Similarly both the sides agreed to exchange students for academic and training programmes.