Rawalpindi - MNA Raja Javed Ikhlas has said that a sub-campus of Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) would be established in Mandra and different degree programmes would be started there with special emphasis on agriculture of the area for the uplift of the farming community.

He stated this while addressing at the annual dinner of the students of University Research Farm Koont organized by PMAS-AAUR here yesterday. On the occasion, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Rai Niaz Ahmad, deans, directors, faculty members and a large number of students were also present.

Raja Javed Ikhlas said that the government particularly Chief Minister Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif was taking keen interest in the development of higher education facilities to the youth living in far flung areas.

He said Potohar area has high agricultural productivity due to the highly skilled farming community and hoped that the proposed campus would help bridge the gap between modern farming and the ongoing agricultural practices.

He said that young generation was our future and the establishment of the university campus would help to promote higher education in the area and youth after seeking higher education will serve the country in a better way.

He appreciated University Model Research Farm having drip/sprinkler irrigation for orchards, tunnel farming, & rainwater harvesting which is an example for the farmers. He suggested the local farming community to adopt these new techniques in agriculture to get maximum output. He also appreciated the efforts and developments being made by the University for socio-economic Uplift of the forming community with special emphasis on rain-fed agriculture in the country.

Earlier, Vice Chancellor, PMAS-AAUR Prof Dr Rai Niaz in his welcome address said that this Campus would provide locals with modern agriculture education to the youth, which will help to develop agriculture sector of the region. He said students of the area would no longer have to move to other cities for higher education.

He said that Potohar area has great potential for agriculture and progress of the country can be made only by the development of agriculture sector. He stressed that there is dire need to adopt latest techniques on farm water management to make barren lands productive.

He also briefed the participants about the integrated approaches of modern farming adopted by PMAS-AAUR on its Research Farm by using drip/sprinkler irrigation for orchards, tunnel farming for vegetable production etc. He said there is dire need of rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation to make irrigation more efficient and economical to solve the problems regarding water scarcity

While highlighting the importance of Co-Curricular activities, Vice Chancellor said that the involvement of students in all such activities help them to build their confidence, personality and character.