FAISALABAD City News

UAF VC given task to revamp agri policy: Sana

From Our Correspondent

FAISALABAD: Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan has said that the government is making all-out efforts to address the problems of the people with a special focus on new business and employment opportunities and agriculture development.

He was addressing delegates of the International Cotton Advisory Committee at a ceremony at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad here on Sunday. He said that the country was producing major crops in abundance, ensuring the food security. He said that the government had taken revolutionary steps by launching the Kisan package, increasing agricultural loans and establishing cattle markets. He said that the Punjab government had given the task of revamping the agricultural policy to UAF Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. He said that Pakistan was the 4th yarn export country and one of the largest producers of milk and citrus. Last year, the cotton production had faced decline but with the support and initiatives of the government, the crisis had been overcome, he added.

Textile Secretary Hassan Iqbal said that the International Cotton Advisory Committee meeting was held in Islamabad this week in which delegates from 25 countries took part. He said the country was blessed with tremendous talents and resources that needed to be tapped to meet demand of the increasing population. He said that all possible measures were being taken on the part of the government to promote the textile sector in the country.

UAF Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that climate changes were playing havoc with the lives of the people. He said that climate resilient varieties must be promoted to fight the challenges. He said that low investment in agricultural research was a hindrance to alleviate hunger and poverty from the county. He said that vibrant market and value addition mechanism in agriculture sector were need of the hour. It was the weakest area in the country, he added.

Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Muhammad Saeed said that the country was known for its textile sector. He said that industry-academia linkages would pave a way to address the issues of the sector. He said: “We have to move towards the knowledge-based economy.”