Prestigious Civil Award Sitara-i-Imtiaz is conferred on Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmed Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture Faisalabad

Prestigious Civil Award Sitara-i-Imtiaz is conferred on Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmed Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, for his valuable contribution to the field of agricultural research and education. In this regard, investiture ceremony was held at Governor House where Governor Punjab awarded civil awards to various distinguished personalities on the behalf of the President Islamic Republic of Pakistan to mark their achievements with highest recognition. The citation of UAF was narrated very first in the ceremony. Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmed Khan has a long and multiparous career in education, research and administration. He is a scientist of eminence and bestowed with astute management skills. He has released a potato variety (PARS-70), pioneered the research on breeding seedless Kinnow and discovered new varieties of wheat. He is also an author of 252 publications which includes five books and several book chapters. He has initiated an internationally acclaimed program to solve a problem called Witches’ Broom Disease of Lime, which poses a global threat to citrus fruits, the vitamin-C provider for masses. He is currently leading international projects to combat citrus greening disease and mango sudden death. He has supervised more than 90 graduate students and researchers. During the last four year, when he took charge as Vice Chancellor, he brought many reforms for the university that not only increased its ranking but also helped fight the agricultural challenges of the country. According to the ranking of Higher Education Commission, under the leadership of prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, UAF has emerged top University of the Country by QS ratings with 75 score. It also won IDB Science & Technology Award-2012 along with $ 1,00,000 cash prize. It is also number one agricultural university in the country. Besides it, based on impact factor publications/HEC ranking (Scopus database), the UAF stands 3rd in Pakistan. During the last four years, 542 number of faculty members undergone long and short-term training in different counties. In the short-term trainings/seminar within the country, 384 faculty members got benefit. During the last four years 168 foreign delegates visited the university that helped in the capacity building of the students and teaching community of the campus. According to the Academic Ranking of Universities in the Organization of Islamic Conference Countries it stands at No.2 after Aga Khan University. The university has inked 125 Memorandum of Understanding including 72 international and 53 national, showing the UAF strong cooperation with various institutes. It is also running 32 international projects worth 516 million rupees. During the last four years, the university has clinched eight presidential awards, four best teachers’ awards, five Pakistan Academy of Sciences’ medals and four International awards. As establishment of New Institutes/Centers/College is concerned, the university has set up the a Community College at PARS, Institute of Microbiology, Institute of Business Management Sciences, Institute of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Institute of Rural Home Economics. Besides it, Day Care Centre, Students Counseling Centre, five new Students Hostels at PARS, Women Complex, Women Health Centre, 120 New Housing units for BPS 1-5, Housing for Minorities, Green Houses, Video Conferencing Halls, Post-Harvest Teaching and Training Center and Business Incubation Centre have been established in order to provide state-of-the-art facility to the students and teaching community.