USAID Mission Director Veerya Kate Somvongsiri visited the University of Agriculture Faisalabad

FAISALABAD March 18: USAID Mission Director Veerya Kate Somvongsiri visited the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and called on UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. She also visited the UAF Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security and different labs and field areas. She said that it was an impressive center and USAID was proud to have an opportunity to establish the CAS-AFS a decade ago. She said that amazing work is being carried out by faculty and students at the center for dealing with agricultural challenges. She said that climate change is occurring around the world and there is a need to develop food security and modern agriculture in Pakistan to help increase economic development. She said USAID’s strategic partnership with the university would help address agricultural challenges. UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that in 2013-14, the university had prepared UAF Vision 2030. The goals of it have been achieved and currently more than 30,000 students are studying in the university while its research and development portfolio has exceeded 20 billion. He said that a strategy is being devised for the best facilities for 60,000 students in 2050 to meet the needs of that time. He said that currently more than 50 percent female students are studying in the university, who are being provided with the best facilities, including women complex, sports complex, day care center, facilitation center, working women's hostel, common rooms and others. He said that the UAF had prepared a ten-year agricultural strategic plan, which will open up a new chapter of agricultural development and prosperity. He appreciated the efforts of the faculty regarding the spring festival celebrations. He said that there were a record number of patents in UAF during the last 15 months that will uncover a new chapter of success. Director Office of Democracy, Rights and Governance USAID, Shally Prasad, USAID Lahore Team Lead Arshia Bano, Dr. Sultan Habibullah, Director of Research Dr. Jafar Jaskani, Director of Public Relations Dr. Jalal Arif, Dr. Rizwana Maqbool, Dr. Saqib and others were also present.