University of Agriculture Faisalabad Prof Dr Zahir Ahmad Zahir has been elected as the President of Soil Science Society of Pakistan.

The oath taking ceremony of the society was held at the New Senate Hall that was administrated by UAF Dr Asif Tanveer. University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Kaleem Abbasi was the guest of honor on the occasion. The other newly elected members of the society include Dr Ghulam Murtaza as General Secretary, Dr Muhammad Iqbal as Treasurer; Dr Abid Niaz as Vice President (Punjab), Dr Javaid Ahmad as Vice President (Sindh ); Dr Maria Musarrat as Vice President ( KPK), Dr Majid Mahmood as Vice President (AJK); and others. Talking to the ceremony, Prof Dr Asif Tanveer said that the decreasing fertility of the soil was a real challenge for which the soil scientists were playing a commendable contribution to address the issue at the national level. He congratulated the newly selected members. He said that the agriculture sector was directly linked to the poverty alleviation. And it is contribution 19 percent to Gross Domestic Product. Dr Kaleem Abbasi said that the UAF had played a pivotal role to fight the challenges of the agriculture sector. He said that contribution of the society were commendable for taking tremendous steps to uplift the agriculture sector with soil fertility. Dr Zahir Ahmad Zahir appreciated and acknowledgement for the out going Executive Committee. They have set up very high standards of excellence and a big challenge for new EC to keep up the reputation of execellence. He said that they were fully determined to combat the emerging issues of the agriculture in general and soil in particular. He said that amid the situation of decreasing land of the agriculture and ever increasing population, it is our duty to increase the per acre production as per developed nations that will help alleviate the poverty from the country. Prof Dr Kaleem Abbasi along with Hall Warden Prof Dr Muhammad Yaseen also planted a tree in a hostel. Dr Abdul Rasheed, Dr Khurram Zia also spoke.