Knowledge-based economy are imperative to address the daunting issues of poverty, agriculture low productivity, unemployment and other challenges, said Dr Muhammad Nawaz, the former Vice Chancellor, University of Veterinary Sciences Lahore.

He addressed a seminar titled collective action for knowledge based economy using technology at New Senate Hall, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. He said that innovative ideas, out-of-the-box thinking and latest technology are essential to compete with the rest of the world. He said that development cannot keep pace with population growth due to resources constraints for development activities including health, nutrition, education, employment etc. He said that ever-increasing population in the country was an area of grave concern for which we have to create awareness in the people especially youth. Talking about other areas, he said that collaborative and intensive efforts were required to meet the sustainable development goals that comprise 17 points of agenda such as poverty and hunger alleviation, ensure healthy lives, and quality education etc. He said that 60 percent of people in Pakistan was living below the poverty lines and 58 percent food insecure households. He said that 25 million of children are not in schools in the country. He said that with the help of information and communication technology, we can disseminate messages and knowledge among the people. He urged the youth to add beauty to the world with their creativity. He said that the country was blessed with the hardworking and talented people. He said that young were coming up with the new ideas of Faculty of Veterinary Sciences UAF Dean Dr Zafar Iqbal Qureshi said it is the need of the hour to produce skilled manpower to benefit the mankind and to compete with world advancements including Precision Agriculture, Information Technology, modern disaster management system, Information technology and others areas. He said sustainable agriculture would pave the way to address the issues and to alleviate poverty. Dr Tahir Siddiqui said that agriculture share to Gross Domestic Product was 20 percent, he said, adding that majority of people was associated to agriculture sector directly or indirectly. He said that university is strengthening our connections with agriculture experts and scientists from all corner of the country for the betterment in the sector. He said that the time has com A delegation of Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) visited the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and called on UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa. The Korean team comprised Seung Man Sang Korean Minister Counselor and Junho Choi Deputy Country Director KOICA. They discussed the area of the mutual concern. The Korean team told that a team of Koran agriculture experts will visit the UAF on Dec 6 and will held the meeting with UAF agri experts working on fruits, vegetables, animal and livestock sector. They told that the different areas of mutual cooperation would be dig out for strengthening academia and research ties. They said ties were being further strengthened in academia, agriculture and other areas. The Korean team lauded the step being taken on the part of the UAF in the area of academia and research and for the uplift of agriculture sector and offered Korean help where needed to the UAF. Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa said that a project of the Korean Agriculture Innovation Park will be set up at UAF. He said that we have the large population of youth. If we train them and provide quality education and skill them the country can overcome the challenges of the poverty, unemployment and low per capita income. He said the collaboration would bring the tangible results to address the different issues.