The Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad would be elevated to the status of Institute of Entomology, UAF keeping the performance and importance of Department Of Entomology in view.

The Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad would be elevated to the status of Institute of Entomology, UAF keeping the performance and importance of Department Of Entomology in view. It was stated by University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Zafar while addressing a seminar arranged by Department of Entomology in connection with Higher Education Commission 15 Years of Excellence. Talking about higher education, he said that degree awarding institutes are mandated to create knowledge and sharing, to build economies and leadership at all levels. He said the HEC had played a pivotal role to bring reform in the higher education sector. He said the HEC started its services in 2002 and with a committed and dedicated mission, accomplished a huge series of magnificent success within 15 years. He said that Department of Entomology is playing role in the uplift of the agriculture sector by overcoming the attacks of insects on the field. He praised the Entomology Department for conducting a survey on the directives of Punjab Government in the cotton belt regarding record decline in cotton production in 2015. He said that it is matter of the pride for the university that Entomology Department has won two projects on pink bollworm and whitefly from PARB. He viewed if PBW and whitefly were not overcome, it would dent our agricultural production. He also said the atmosphere of positive attitude, self-accountability, forgiveness, brotherhood, and quality education needs to be flourished in the society in order to address different social, administrative and others issues. He said that with the passage of time, some negative changes in lifestyle, mindset, and value system are witnessed that are deteriorating our social fabric. He saluted HEC founder Dr Athaur Rehman for his vision and revolution in the education sector. He also said that under the leadership of Dr Ahmad Mukhtar, the HEC was flourishing with leaps and bounds. Dean Faculty of Agriculture Dr Muhammad Amjad said that Department of Entomology was playing a pivotal role in the development and prosperity of the country. He said besides running multiple national and international projects, the Department is partnered with Punjab Government in dengue research and control program. He said that HEC had elevated the status of the university academia. Before the inception of HEC in 2002, the university academia staff was starting their career as lecturer in BS 17. Now they are being recruited in BS 18 as lecturer. He said the before 2002 it was a merely dream to get the foreign scholarship but now multiple foreign scholarships are being availed. He said that there is need to create an environment of forgiveness, and to promote brotherhood in the society. He said that country was achieved after the great sacrifices. Now, it is our responsibility to move it to the new horizon of development and prosperity. Chairman Entomology Dr Jalal Arif said that HEC had awarded overall 26 projects worth Rs 67 million to the Entomology Department out of which 12 have been completed whereas 14 projects are ongoing. He said that 28 PhDs students of the department had completed part of their research under IRSIP program in different countries with the total HEC funding of Rs 28 million. He added that HEC awarded scholarship worth Rs 66 million to 50 PhDs under Indigenous PhD scholarship program. He said that most of the department faculty had benefitted from the HEC scholarships, trainings and workshops. He added that to present the research work in the international conferences, faculty members of department availed 25 travel grants from HEC worth Rs 6.51 million. He said He said that in 2002 countrywide, there were only 59 universities, 800 publications and 3110 PhDs. It has now crossed 188 higher education institutions, 12,000 publications, and around 12,000 PhDs. As many as 32 per cent female enrolment has now reached 48 per cent. He said that the improved access with equity, growing PhD faculty, state of the art labs, up-to-date curriculums, modern infrastructure, thriving learning and research environment, advance ICT facilities and tools, focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, integration with society, quality assurance and good governance are hallmarks of HE Sector in Pakistan. They also cut the cake to celebrate the HEC 15 Years of Excellence. Dr Mansoor Sahi, Dr Sohail Ahmad, and Dr Muhammad Abid, also spoke on the occasion.