Additional Chief Secretary Punjab Agriculture and Rural Economy Sumaira Samad has said that Punjab government and the UAF will strengthen agriculture skill development ties to uplift the sector.

She visited the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and called on UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ashraf. The meeting was attended by Advisor Agriculture Value Chain Ayesha Gulzar, Dr Azeem Senior Research Analyst Urban Unit Lahore; Dr Rasheed Ahmad, Dr Aman Ullah, Dr Zahir Ahmad, Dr Muhammad Yasin, Dr Nuzhat Huma, Dr Qamar Bilal and others. The meeting discussed the area of collaboration in value chain, livestock, and agriculture. Sumaira Samad said that agriculture was the backbone of the economy that is contributing to 19 percent to the Gross Domestic Product. She said that the country was having a lot of potential in agriculture sector. She added that the skill development in the sector will help the boost the sector manifold. She added that the Punjab government was making all out efforts to flourish the agriculture sector. UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ashraf said that in China, Bio Healthy Agriculture Program and poverty reduction model were bringing fruitful results. He said that same can be replicated in the country as a step towards strengthened economy. He said that university is used to bring the policy recommendations based on scientific research to government.