Washington States University USA and University of Agriculture Faisalabad will work together to address challenges including food security, human development, water scarcity issue and health problems. It was discussed at a meeting of WSU International Program Vice President and former American ambassador Dr Asif Javed Ch with UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar A Khan at the syndicate room.
It was attended by all deans and directors. Dr. Asif Javed Chaudhry said that universities are meant for gearing up economic activities with research, community services, trained manpower, and industry-academia linkages which bring prosperity and alleviate the poverty. He added that universities in Pakistan must enhance their role for the community development. He said that learning is a life time process which brings the changes and uplift the society. He said that we are obliged to give back to the society for which untiring efforts are needed to play our due role in the progress. He said that it is the most important to bring the people of US and Pakistan to close to each other to get benefit from each other experiences. He said that the WSU and UAF are enjoying long standing and deep rooted relation as at time of UAF inception as varsity in 1961, the WSU professors had laid the foundation of its academic and research as well as infrastructural development during their stay at UAF. He said that currently, 7 percent foreign students were studying in the WSU that will rise to 19 percent in the coming years. Earlier, taking to the students, he saluted the services rendered by Edhi to address the woes of a common man. He urged the youth to follow in his footprints to play their due role for the welfare of the society. He said that journey of the success begins from the leadership. He appreciated the UAF for emerging in the top 100 best universities of the globe. He also added that Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad had rendered marvelous contribution to the area of education, research and community development.
UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that socioeconomic impact of the university on the lives of the common man was imperative. He said that that the University was conducting the tangible research to address the problem of society and farming community. He said the University is housing a USAID Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security aimed at uplifting the sector. He said collaboration with US varsities would prove fruitful for the cause of prosperity. He said that Korean Agricultural Park would also set up at the campus. He said that being an agrarian country, the development of our country was directly linked to the sector. He said that being the mother of all agricultural institutions in the country, the university had produced 73000 graduates so far. He said the University has expected is outreach program for the welfare of farming community at their doorstep. He said it was matter of concern that the 35 percent of the population had been in the grip of malnutrition. He said that UAF had kicked off a BS program (Human Nutrition and Dietetics) to address the issue. He said they had developed a breed of Unigold hen which is climate resilient and give the eggs all the year. He told that UAF was assisting Punjab Government in promoting and multiplying the Unigold rural and backyard poultry to alleviate the poverty. Later, Dr Asif also visited all the faculties and community college. Dean Faculty of Social Science Prof Dr Iqbal Zafar, Dean Faculty of Agriculture Prof Dr Muhammad Amjad, Dean Faculty of Food Sciences Prof Dr Masood Sadiq Butt, Dean Animal Husbandry Dr Muhammad Sajjad Khan, Dean Faculty of Veterinary Sciences Dr Ahrar, Principal Officer Public Relations Dr Jalal Arif, Principal Community College Dr Ijaz Ahmad Bhatti and other notables also spoke.