Punjab Minister for Co-operatives and Prisons Muhammad Iqbal Channar has said that the new technologies must be introduced in the field of agriculture for the benefit of farmers and prosperity of the country and research and inventions of scientists should be encouraged.
He was addressing a three-day International Symposium on recent advances in Molecular Biology entitled "Advances in Molecular Biology of Plants and Health Sciences" at National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology here on Tuesday. PU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Mujahid Kamran, Dean Faculty of Life Sciences Dr Javed Iqbal Qazi, Dr Kausar Abdullah Malik from FC University, Dr Ahmad Mukhtar Khalid from University of Sargodha, Center of Excellence in Microbiology(CEMB) Director Professor Dr Tayyab Husnain, faculty members and over 100 scientists from USA, Germany, Japan, Iran, KSA as well as from different prestigious institutes of Pakistan were present on the occasion. Addressing the ceremony, Channar said that the federal and provincial governments had adopted agriculture-friendly policies and the prime minister had announced Rs 341 billion historical package to aid farmers.
He applauded the efforts of organisers for organising symposium and appreciated the productive idea of Dr Tayyab Husnain to bring the alumini back and giving them a chance to present their research. He also appreciated the efforts of CEMB scientists in fields of agriculture and health and stressed that such applied research is essential to solve the problems of common man. He congratulated CEMB scientists on achievement of high yield BT cotton and recombinant Hepatitis vaccine. He said that symposium will provide platform for new international collaborations and students would benefit from experience of research scholar from different parts of world.
Dr Tayyab Husnain in his welcome address said that the idea behind this international symposium was to gather scientists; share science and search ways to collaborate. He said that the participation of such a large number of Molecular Biologists from Agriculture and Health side in this symposium was a good omen and showed the magnitude of the interest of the participants.