Turkish delegation visits UAF

Pakistan and Turkey relations need to be more strengthened especially in the field of agriculture, education and research in a bid to alleviate poverty from the region. This was stated by Turkish delegation of Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) headed by Mahmud Civik, Coordinator Agricultural and Livestock Project, TIKA flanked by Ms Janna Incharge Pak Turk Desk, Ankara and Mahmood Saeed coordinator Pak Turk Centre, Islamabad during Deans and Directors meeting chaired by University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan at Syndicate Room. The Coordinator Agricultural and Livestock Project, TIKA said that both countries had been enjoying good relations and stood with each other in tough times. He said that because of religion and other factors, they considered Pakistanis as their brothers. They stressed the need to more cementing the ties in the various field to cope with the different situations. He said that they had initiated a project in Faisalabad in collaboration with the University of Agriculture Faisalabad to promote best livestock breeds for narrowing down the poverty from the country. Under the Project, the Turkish counterparts are distributing goats of best breeds in the eighty families, he added. He said that his organization was running many projects across the country in a bid to improve agricultural sector for ensuring food security. Talking about UAF, he said that the university was one of best universities in the country in agriculture. He said that his country is launching students and study tours programmes with the varsity to share the knowledge for the cause of improved agriculture sector. Addressing the delegation, Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad called for promoting betal goats in the country in a bid to get enhanced productivity of mutton. He said they had launched BSc Food Engineering Programme and sought the assistance of Turkey as it was excelling in the field and their collaboration would help strengthen the degree programme. He said that both countries would collaborate in mango and olive oil, resulting in boosting up the economy. He said that the university was having strong ties with the world as it has inked 73 memorandum of understanding with the world and 52 MoUs with national organization in the span of four years Ms Janna said that TIKA was working on many fronts including agriculture, education, health and others social sector development programs. She said that the aims of programmes are to reduce the poverty for the prosperity. She said that they also provided technical support to various countries to achieve the said goals. She said that agriculture and livestock were the priorities areas on which they were working on.