UAF Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan discusses matters relationg to R&D activities with members of evaluation team for Pakistan Agricultural Research Centre here at Syndicate Hall of UAF

University of Agriculture Faisalabad becomes number one university of the country by QS rating with highest 75 score followed by Agha Khan University with 73. After tremendous patronage of HEC, today the universities are in take-off position to build economy of the country by innovative ideas and the transforming the knowledge into goods and services. This was revealed by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan while discussing issues of mutual interests with an independent international evaluation team for Pakistan Agricultural Research Centre (PARC) put together by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) comprises here at New Syndicate Hall of the University. The team was comprises on Prof. Jock Anderson, Prof. Regina Birner and Dr. Frank Anderson. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan was of the view that UAF intends to see PARC a vibrant and prosperous organization with an effective liaison and trust oriented coordination with other institutions of the country. He said that UAF operates very much in lines with the strategic plan of Higher Education Commission and become the pioneer by evolving community college concept before the HEC ask all universities to set up such arrangements at their campuses. He said that UAF was distinguished institute of its kind as three of its outfits get full fledge university charter by the government. He told that UAF is working on 32 international projects of 516 million rupees and disbursing 100 million every year on research projects, technology transfer programs and product commercialization by its own resources. Dr. Ahmad told the visiting team that four years ago there were only 192 PhD and 38 female faculty member working with UAF and with conscious efforts today the number has been raised upto 260 and 150 respectively which is a testament of its marvelous R&D activities. He apprised the team that they are working on creating and promoting such environment of entrepreneurship and self-employment as public section is no more offering jobs to the graduates. Dr. Khan was of the view that despite of energy and water shortage, agriculture sector was growing as every passing year Nestle Pakistan used to close its account with more than 30% growth and fertilizer along with farm machinery sectors were not able to meet the demand of the consumers. Later, the visiting delegation visited various research labs and field areas of the University.