The University of Agriculture Faisalabad's Endowment Fund Board of Directors meeting approved the soft loan for the employees and construction of executive hostel at the campus in order to facilitate the campus community.

The University of Agriculture Faisalabad's Endowment Fund Board of Directors meeting approved the soft loan for the employees and construction of executive hostel at the campus in order to facilitate the campus community. The soft loan will be initiated with the seed money of Rs 10 million. The meeting was chaired by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan whereas Executive Director ALP Ahmad B Maher, PARB Chief Executive Officer Dr Noorul Islam, Farmers Associates Chief Executive Aafaq Ahmad Tiwana, Natiq Ali, UAF Registrar Muhammad Hussain, Treasurer Umar Saeed and Endowment Fund Executive Director Dr Zahir Ahmad Zahir were present on the occasion. Talking to the meeting, the Vice Chancellor said that the agriculture was the backbone of our economy, contributing 21 percent to the gross domestic product. He said that the UAF was the mother of all agri based educational institutions in the country. He said that the UAF by design take the students from the four corners of the country with district based quota. He said that the UAF was mandated for the food security and rural development of the country. He said that the UAF was making all our efforts for the said cause by taking all possible steps in term of education, research, and outreach program. He lauded the steps being taken on the part of Endowment Fund for the promotion of research, outreach programmes of the UAF. He also said that the USAID Funded Center for Advanced Studies ( Agriculture and Food Security ) had started functioning. He also thanked the Punjab government for setting up a hostel for 1000 students. He said that the Higher Education Commission has also approved a hostel for 1000 students. Dr Zahir Ahmad Zahir said that all possible measures were being taken to address the problems of the farming community through research and outreach programme. He said that the Endowment was meant for facilitating the staff for the said noble cause. He also said that the Expo Centre of UAF will be equipped with air conditioning. Treasurer Umer Saeed presented the budget of Endwnment Fund worth Rs 816 million. The Fund was started with Rs 630 million a couple of years ago. The meeting approved the budget.