Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali takes charge of Vice Chancellour UAF

FAISALABAD March 4, 2025: The Governor/ Chancellor has appointed Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali as Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture Faisalabad for a period of four years. He has taken the charge of the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Zulfiqar Ali is a Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. He had worked as Director Programs and Projects at OIC’s specialized entity on Food Security “Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS)” at Astana, Kazakhstan since 2023. His academic excellence was recognized by President of Pakistan conferring upon him National level HEC-Best University Teacher Award 2020. His research excellence was well recognized by Pakistan Academy of Sciences awarding him Gold Medal in Biotechnology in 2017. He has been a winner of research productivity awards. He has earned PhD degree from UAF, post-doc from the University of Sydney, Australia and Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China He has made significant research contributions by producing numerous Impact Factor publications. Furthermore, he has supervised 20 PhD and 100+ MS students. He has developed the technologies including Pakistani hybrid wheat for seed replacement and yield gain; Architectured multifloret wheat plant to break yield stagnation; Architectured capturing wheat plant for water saving; Architectured multifloret rice plant to break yield stagnation and Rice seed biotech for phosphorous use efficiency and water saving. Acknowledging his achievements, IOFS sent his service requisite to Government of Pakistan to work as Director Programs and Projects at IOFS. Since February 2023, he was engaged in IOFS strategy revamping, transforming IOFS landscape from activities to projects, initiating specialized projects like Wheat Development for Mauritania and MENA, Food Hubs in OIC geography, SAZs etc. As Pioneer Chairman Department Plant Breeding and Genetics, MNS University of Agriculture (MNSUA) , Multan; Pioneer Director Quality Enhancement Cell, Pioneer Director/ Principal Officer Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization, MNUSA from 2015 to 2022, he secured above three billion rupees extramural funding.