Dr Mukhtar Ahmad has urged the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries to expedite joint efforts in order to avert water scarcity, food insecurity and malnutrition challenges

Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmad has urged the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries to expedite joint efforts in order to avert water scarcity, food insecurity and malnutrition challenges in the region. He was addressing the concluding session of Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asian (LANSA) held at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. He was of the view that water scarcity threat looms large, resulting in low agricultural production. He said population is increasing with large pace whereas natural resources and agricultural land are diminishing. He said that country was running through difficult time in the term of food security, energy and water issue. Keeping in view, the USAID in collaboration with HEC is setting up three Centers for Advanced Studies in the said areas. The Centre in Food Security is being established at the UAF. The country was having seven agricultural universities, he said, adding that the varsities should set up a consortium for joint efforts to ensure food security. UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that the country was placed in the ‘red zone’ in term of per capita water availability. The per capita water availability had deceased manifold as it is only 1000 cubic metre which was 5200 cubic metre in 1947. He said that it is needed to make the rational use of the water in the country. He said that malnutrition is affecting 40 percent of the children. We have to take measure to end the malnutrition from the region. He said that we have to shift our focus from green revolution to ever-green revolution. India renowned scientist Dr MS Swaminathan said the agricultural development and technology transfer would improve lives and livelihoods of rural communities. He called for collaborating in the areas of nutrition, agricultural and food. He said that post harvest losses must be minimized for increasing the agricultural productivity. Commissioner Faisalabad Sardar Akram Javed said that the country was blessed with tremendous blessings. He said that adoption of latest agricultural practices will help face the challenge of food insecurity. He also stressed the need to make the rationalize use of water. Arid PMAS Arid Agriculture University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Rai Niaz said called for creating enabling environments and educate the farming community with the latest practices and tools. He said that low per acre production was a matter of grave concern. National Institute of Food Sciences and Science Technology (NIFSAT) DG Prof Dr Masood Sadiq Butt said that the meeting was meant to collaborate among the scientists of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Dr Kauser Abdullah Malik from FC College Lahore, MPA Najma Afzal, MPA Surayia Azeem, MPA Ilyas Ansari, Dr Prakash Shetty from Lansa, Dr Syedduzzaman from Lansa Bangladesh, Haris Gazdar from Lansa Pakistan, Vice Chancellor Agri University Afghanistan Dr Hakimi, Haris Gazdar from Lansa Pakistan, Prof Dr Mahendra Dev, Dr Ajay Parida, Ms RV Bhavani, Dr Prakash Shetty, Dr VP Singh from India and Prof Dr. Masood Sadiq Butt were present on the occasion.