Quality education is prerequisite to reduce poverty and to fight the challenges facing the country and it works as engine for a bright future, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan (SI).

Quality education is prerequisite to reduce poverty and to fight the challenges facing the country and it works as engine for a bright future, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan (SI). The Vice Chancellor addressed newly admitted students to the undergraduate degree programs at Iqbal Auditorium, UAF. He said that the UAF was only institution in the country which has been ranked among the top 100 universities of the globe in any category. He added that the varsity research portfolio had touched to Rs 2.5 billion which speaks the volume of competency of its faculty. He said that University was making all-out efforts for addressing the issues of the farming community, stakeholders, civil society and the campus community. He urged the newly admitted students to devote themselves for the learning process. He said that extra-curricular/ sports activities are also essential for the personality grooming. He said that Pakistan was the agricultural country and poverty alleviation is directly linked to the sector. He said that the UAF had produced more than 66000 graduates and 1400 PhDs so far. He said that the university had introduced 45 demand driven new degree programs keeping in view the need of the modern era. He said that the University current enrollment had touched 23000. As many as 50 percent of the enrollment consists of women and the university was actively working on gender mainstreaming. He said that the university was taking all measures to educate the needy and deserving people. In this regarding the Financial Aid Office is providing scholarship worth millions of rupees annually. Dean Faculty of Agriculture Dr Amjad Aulakh, Dean Social Sciences Dr Iqbal Zafar, Treasurer Umar Saeed, Dean Food Sciences Dr Masood Sadiq Butt, Dean Agri Engineering Dr Allah Buksh, Controller Examination Dr Abdul Wahid, Dr Khalil ur Rehman, Dr Nisar Ahmad, Dr Shoukat Ali Bhatti, Dr Muhammad Aslam, Dr Rashid Ahmad, Dr Tahir Siddque and other notables also spoke on the occasion.