FAISALABAD - German scientists have stressed the need for developing scientific research with a special focus on unprivileged class so as to alleviate poverty from across the world.
Dr Bernhard Tischbein and Dr Christopher Conard met with University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan at his Chamber on Friday.
Faculty of Agriculture Engineering Dean Prof Dr Rai Niaz Ahmad and Department of Irrigation Chairman Prof Dr Allah Bukhsh were also present on the occasion. The meeting also reviewed a project aimed at improving science policy for development, fighting water crisis and enhancing the agriculture productivity in the country. Dr Bernhard, who is working with ZEF, Centre for Development Research, University of Bonn, Germany, said the goal of his organisation was to contribute with the research and education to enhancing sustainable human development and combating poverty in the developing world.
He said that his organisation strived to strengthen international development research in Germany, Europe and the developing nations. Talking about areas of research, he said that the ZEF was working on three dimension including political and cultural; economic and ecological resources. He said the ZEF’s water research agenda was focusing on physical, socio economic, political and legal contexts for devising an integrated approach in this regard. The role of environment cannot be evaluated without considering environment and social conditions.
The scientists stressed the need to create the awareness among the masses to conserve water as Pakistan is being counted in the list of water scarce countries and in the future, the situation would worsen.
Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that the UAF had inked 53 international Memorandum of Understanding and was actively working with various international organisations for the growth of all field especially agriculture.
The country was facing a threat of food insecurity that must be coped with, he said, adding that since the establishment of the country, the production of the major crops had gone up manifold but now the stagnation was being observed.
He stressed the need to step up efforts to fight the hunger from the region.
Talking about the university, he said, the Islamic Development Bank recognised the R&D activities of the UAF and described it the best institution of the Islamic world and announced S&T Award-2012 with $ 10,000 cash prize.