A meeting of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Industry Liaison Working Group on Fisheries and Aquaculture was held at the Faculty of Fisheries and Wildlife of the UVAS, Ravi Campus, Pattoki. Vice-Chancellor Professor Doctor Talat Naseer Pasha chaired the inaugural session of the Working Group meeting while 50 participants, including faculty members, Director Extension Punjab Fisheries, Chief Operating Officer, Fisheries Development Board Pakistan, industry partners (fish farmer, fish feed mill owners) and postgraduate students attended.
Fisheries and Wildlife Dean Faculty Professor Dr Muhammad Ashraf presented welcome address while Chairman Department Fisheries and Aquaculture Dr Noor Khan gave a detailed overview of the sector and working group objectives and responsibilities. In a speech the VC appreciated the efforts of the department in bringing all stakeholders (researchers, academia and industry) to a single platform to discuss the problems/issues facing the fish industry and finding their solutions to uplift the sector. "There is a great potential in aquaculture industry and for investors to move forward and invest in various sectors like intensification, processing, preservation and marketing."
Professor Pasha advised the faculty and working group members to plan problem-oriented joint research projects and develop commercial demonstration units for students and stakeholders at the university and aquaculture intensification cluster units. After the inaugural ceremony, a discussion session was held in which group members discussed major issues facing the industry, objectives of the group, its scope and future planning. At the end, the faculty of fisheries and wildlife dean thanked the group members who came from various regions of Punjab and Sindh and their active participation and willingness to work jointly for uplifting the sector to its maximum heights.