The University of Agriculture Faisalabad has topped in the Higher Education Commission’s Technology Development Fund projects for second consecutive year. In 2018, it bagged 12 projects out of 35. Whereas, winning projects worth Rs 107 million.

UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa distributed certificates among the winners of these projects at a ceremony arranged by Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization UAF at New Senate Hall. ORIC Director Zahir Ahmad Zahir gave the briefing on the occasion whereas Dean Faculty of Veterinary Sciences Dr Zafar Iqbal Qureshi and Dr Abdul Rasheed also spoke on the occasion. Giving briefing, Dr Zahir Ahmad Zahir said that besides TDF, UAF has won 32 projects in the National Research Program for University and it worth 117.3 million this year. He added that Pakistan Agriculture Research Council Program’s Agriculture Linkages Program, UAF has bagged 16 projects worth 77 million. He added that besides it, PCST’s Research Productivity Award, the university had got as many as 18 awards. UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa while congratulating staff, stressed upon the need to further pace up their efforts to flourish the agriculture sector in the country. He said that there is a need to develop the enabling environments for the scientists that will help end the brain drain. Many Pakistan scientists settled abroad as they did not find the enabling working conditions. He added that skilled technicians and laboratory staff were need of the hour to make the development and prosperity. He added that it is the power of mind that an idea can change the world. He stressed upon the need to think out-of-the-box and develop products to move towards knowledge based economy. He said that it is also need of hour to produce skilled technicians, field assistants etc. He added that the country was blessed with tremendous talents. By honing the skills of the people we can compete with the rest of the world.