Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FPCCI) President Mian Muhammad Adrees on Thursday called for cementing academia-industry ties to address the problems of industry and business community in a bid to flourish the economy that will help reduce the unemployment and poverty

Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FPCCI) President Mian Muhammad Adrees on Thursday called for cementing academia-industry ties to address the problems of industry and business community in a bid to flourish the economy that will help reduce the unemployment and poverty. He was talking to the participants of academia-industry meeting as the Chief Guest at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF). The meeting was chaired by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. Addressing on the occasion, Mian Adreess said that strong academia-industry linkages are the prerequisite to face up the new challenges of 21st century. He said that today the key to economic growth is in the human resource equipped with knowledge and technology to respond to the world market and growth of economy. He said that China had tapped the potential of their human resource and has emerged as the giant in the world economy. Our country was far lagging behind in value addition of human capital that is the real poverty. img Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan and Industries (FPCCI) President Mian Muhammad Adrees talking to the participants of academia-industry meeting at UAF The FPCCI president recommended the UAF to introduce new skills development courses for labour class to top management to enhance their capability. On which, the UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan consented. Mian Adrees said that our county was too good in fruit and vegetable and we could earn billions by exporting these potential. But we are running short of value addition. If we give some due attention to the value addition, the country can fetch heavy foreign exchange. He said that majority of our farming community was the small farmers and they did not have the resources of value addition. He urged the government to take measures in this regard. China India trade has touched to 90 billion whereas our Pak China trade is standing at 10 billion, he lamented. He assured the UAF of their full support for the betterment of the human resources, business community and the growth of the country. He said that they would support the university to strengthen their ties with the trade bodies so that issues of them can be addressed effectively. He congratulated the Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan for winning the French highest Civil Award and put the name of the varsity and Pakistan in the records of the world. He also lauded the UAF for becoming the first-ever Pakistani university ranked among top 100 univeisty of the globe. UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that the UAF would kick off new short duration courses according to demand of the industry. He said that the government was taking all possible steps for the promotion of education. The government has earmarked Rs 71 billion for the education in the budget whereas it was Rs 48 billion last year. He said that it was the duty of the academia to give the solution of the industry. He added that the agricultural sector was facing the serious issues. The prices of all agricultural produce of the country were higher than the international markets due to our heavy cost of production. He maintained that academia-industry linkages are vital to reduce the cost of production. He lauded the Punjab government for initiating rural road project that will provide relief to the farming community to bring their goods from farms to markets. He added that the University was opened for the industry. The industry should come forward to put their problems in front of the UAF and find their viable solution for the betterment of the economy. img UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan presents memento to Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FPCCI) President Mian Muhammad Adrees Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Rizwan Ashraf said that strength of any nation was the human resource and the academia was the root to refurbish the skills of the manpower. He said that six to seven million people are adding to the manpower every year. For which, w have to provide opportunity to earn their livelihood. He said that strong academia-industry linkages would pave the way of the development of the country. He said water was the base of the life and the country was listed as water scarce country. He added that steps are needed to address the issue and give the awareness among the masses. Dr Javaid Iqbal from University of California, Davis and Dr Mark