The University of Agriculture Faisalabad Academic Council on Saturday approved fees reduction in degrees and FSc programmes in order to promote the education at grass-root level and make it accessible to marginalized section of the society.

The meeting was chaired by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan where Registrar Muhammad Hussain presented the agenda. Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan directed the teaching staff to ensure the quality education at par with international standards for which all-out efforts are being made. He apprised the council that the UAF was mandated for agricultural development, food security and rural development of the county. He said UAF admits the students on district quota with the special focus on rural background which is the oppressed section of the society. He said that 40 percent of UAF students were getting need based and other scholarships due to financial difficulties.

The council also approved the joint degree undergraduate programme in agriculture with the Canadian Dalhousie University. The Council also approved the establishment of graduate groups in grains, post harvest losses, food preservation, toxicology, nutrition, water and other areas at the US Pakistan Centre for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security. The graduate groups will work on curriculum reforms and tangible research work on the real issue of the food security and agriculture. The Council also approved strengthening the internship programme with the new initiatives by broadening it n agriculture. The Vice Chancellor also told that the UAF was starting a three-month diploma in grain technology with a Chinese university with a couple of months. He said that the UAF was first-ever education institution in the country which is ranked in top 100 universities worldwide.

Talking about the agriculture, the Vice Chancellor said that agricultural was facing the stagnation for the last decade whereas 40 percent of our population is under the grip of malnutrition. He said that being the agricultural and under developed country, the rural development and high literacy were prerequisite to make the development and prosperity in every sphere of life. Talking about education, he said that quality education was the guarantee of bright future as it works as engine for the growth of any country. He urged the teaching community to develop teacher-student friendly environment to refurbish God-given abilities of the students. He urged the teaching and students community to think out of box and come up with innovative ideas.