Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Peter Heyward visits UAF

Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Peter Heyward on Tuesday called for more strengthening ties in agriculture, trade and academia between the both countries in order to ensure food security, economic growth and to get benefit from each other experiences. He was talking to University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan at Syndicate Room in which all deans and directors of UAF participated. He was accompanied by his wife Susan Heyward and Second Secretary Lachlan McLeod. He said that Australian government was focusing on food security, which was one of priority areas. He was of the view that collaborated efforts were needed to fight the challenges of water scarcity and food security as Pakistan is victim of the said crises. He said that Australian population is standing at 23 million. His country was exporting the agricultural produces. He said that strong linkages between academia and industry were essential to move the country towards progress. He added that Pakistan’s agriculture sector can enhance its efficiency by getting experiences of Australia. Australia has been playing a significant role in enhancing productivity of dairy sector in Pakistan. He pledged the full support of his country in this regard. Heyward also vowed to make all-out efforts to boost trade ties between the two countries, pledging its full support and technical assistance for Pakistan in Australian markets. Pakistani mangoes have gained an access to Australian market. By adopting the sanitary and phytosanitary measures, the other fruits, vegetable and other community can be exported to Austria, he added. He said that various Australian organizations were partnered with Pakistani institutions in conduction research that could be translated into strengthening the agricultural policy of Pakistan. He said that under Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)’s Australia Pakistan Agriculture Sector Linkages Program (ASLP) programme, various steps are being taken to flourish the agricultural sector in Pakistan especially in pro-poor value chains, enabling policy and agricultural capability. He stressed the need for capacity building especially in the livestock management. Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that under the ACIAR programme, the UAF is partnered with Australia in mango, citrus, tomato and social research. He was of the view that the Pakistan, Australia strengthened ties would open up new horizon of the progress. He said that seven trial shipments of the mangoes had been sent to Malaysia and China. He said the more joint research programmes were needed to address the common problems of developing and developed nations. He called for launching joint internships programmes so that the students can get benefit from each other experiences. He said that UAF eight professors had completed their degree from Australia while 13 are perusing their degree there.