SARGODHA - The University of Sargodha and Sargodha Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCC&I) on Wednesday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishing ‘Centre of Excellence for Citrus’ to launch joint research ventures here at the university’s College of Agriculture.  The MoU was signed by the Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Saleem Mazhar and SCCI President Ch Shoaib Ahmad Basra. A delegation from the SCC&I and senior faculty members of the University witnessed the MoU signing ceremony. The project of worth Rs 200 million would be funded by the SCCI through its export  development funds.  In the opening remarks, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Saleem Mazhar welcomed the delegation and appreciated the initiative for strengthening academia-industry linkage and boost citrus quality export. He assured his full support and cooperation and emphasized upon tangible and result-oriented outcomes. Addressing on the occasion, the Vice Chancellor said that universities should come forward to put value-addition in national development and growth as urgent efforts were needed in the fields like agricultural industry and public policy with a special focus on local industry and market to improve international competitiveness. Expressing views, SCCI President Ch. Shoaib Ahmad Basra appreciated the efforts of  Sargodha University in researches. He urged the researchers at Sargodha University to introduce new citrus varieties and utilize innovative cultivation techniques that would help in the rapid growth of the citrus industry and accelerate the citrus export. 

  Under the agreement, the Sargodha University would be responsible for providing suitable buildings/laboratories for the proposed centre; accelerating R&D to improve citrus quality and introduce new varieties; promoting research on industrial need-based projects, and organizing knowledge-sharing platforms to support the local citrus industry including farmers, growers and stakeholders. 

The Centre will be run and managed by a board of management jointly headed by the president 

SCCI and the Vice Chancellor, Sargodha University.

Moreover, the University would assist and support the SCCI by providing the necessary 

credentials to increase citrus exports after the establishment of the Centre. 

On the other hand, the SCCI would finance research activities and support the University 

in expanding the horizon of its linkages globally.

Both parties agreed to take initiatives for catering to domestic demands and increasing 

international export of citrus, dissemination of relevant knowledge, and provision of training 

as well as the capacity building of young entrepreneurs.