UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan gives away souvenir to Australian Scientist Dr Alice C Hughes

Amid climate changes and decrease in forest net, Pakistan can face new diseases in the years to come. Keeping in view, it is prerequisite to use modern prediction methods like Species Distribution Modeling to analyze the future threats and find its solution. This was stated by speakers at concluding session of five-day workshop on Species Distribution Modeling arranged by Department of Zoology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture Faisalabad at New Senate Hall. The session was presided over by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan while resource person Australian Scientist Dr Alice C Hughes was guest of honor on the occasion. The vice chancellor said that melting glaciers, climate chances, emitting smoke from factories and changing cropping patterns were the serious concerns that must be addressed by taking extra steps in the form of quality research, social mobilization and policy making. He said that because of changing environment, more diseases like dengue were invading many parts of the country. He pointed out that in the modern world, people used to apply modern techniques, based on scientific methods, to determine the future situation and threats in a bid to extra steps to alleviate the threat before the time. He said that Pakistan would also have to adopt the system, analyzing species behavior, impact of climate change on them etc, to provide the bright environment to the coming generation. He said it was the need of the hours to sanitizing the people on the issue. Dr Alice C Hughes said that it is the matter of concern that the forest net of Pakistan is only four percent and a sharp decrease in the net was witnessed. She said that the reduction in the net was having negative impact on the environment which was already in the hands of climate changes. The changing pattern is becoming of source of outbreak of new diseases in the country like dengue. In the developed nations, they are actively working to predict the future threats and find their threats with state-of-the-art technologies and researches. Pakistan should also expedite the pace of work on the issue in a bid to fight challenges. She also gifted latest software of SDM among all the participants. Prof Dr Munir A Sheikh urged the participated to excel in their field and share their knowledge with other people for the development of the country. Department Chairman Prof Dr Muhammad Javaid told the audience that as many as 30 participants across the country participated in the workshop and were trained about the latest techniquess. Dr Mahmood ul Hassan also spoke on the occasion.