UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan visits the stalls set up in connection with Space Week

The University of Agriculture Faisalabad will set up satellite ground station to analyze the current situation of crops keeping in view the climate impact, drought, and floods etc that will help increase the agricultural productivity. This was stated by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan at inaugural session of Space Week being observed by UAF in collaborations with SUPARCO. Suparco General Manager Iftikhar Bhatti was the chief guest. The Vice Chancellor said the station will get the data of fields to ensure Precision Agriculture (PA), Geographic Information System (GIS) for assuring food security in the country. He said that PA is based on satellite and remote sensing that help the farming community to forecasting weather impact and other information regarding their fields so that they can cultivate their crops accordingly. He said that Pakistan needs to prepare skilled manpower in the space sciences to face up to the modern world. The world has become the global village because of technological advancement, he said, adding that it was the result of satellites and knowledge of space sciences. He said that Pakistan is blessed with talented people. It is need of the hour to polish their skills to prove our mettle in science and technology. Iftikhar Bhatti said that in 2011, the SUPARCO has launched a telecommunication satellite in order to get the information about the space; ensure internet facilities etc. He said that SUPARCO is also giving their expertise at the time of calamities including floods and earthquake by capturing the pictures through satellite. He was of the view that space week throws light on science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that the week will be held each year from October 4-10. Water Management Research Centre Director Dr Allah Buksh said that the University in collaboration with USAID is mulling establishing remote sensing centre here. It will open up new avenue of research with reference to the agriculture sector, he added. He said that the space eliminates the negative sun rays that are bad for human health. ORIC Director Dr Asif Ali, Principal Community College Dr Khalil-ur-Rehman, Saleem Mohsin headmaster Laboratory High School for Boys; Mrs Tasneem Zubair, Headmistress Laboratory Girls High School were present on the occasion. At the event, students of Laboratory School System presented the performance before the gathering. UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan visits the stalls set up in connection with Space Week.