ISLAMABAD
Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) would establish Provincial Agricultural Research Board in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh to promote innovation in agri-sector of the country.
In this regard Chairman PARC Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad presided over a high level meeting and discussed strategies and devise a road map for establishment of Provincial Agricultural Research Boards in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad said the agricultural innovation Program (AIP) for Pakistan is a four-year multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholders project to modernized the agri-sector in the country. He said that the aim of the project financed by the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) was to address the critical intervention areas of Pakistan’s agriculture identified through wider consultations led by PARC and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.
Country Representative CIMMYT Dr. Muhammad Imtiaz presented overall overview of AIP and Dr. Hafeez Ahmad Sadaqat, Executive Member, Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB) has also given a detailed presentation on current structure and way forward of PARB. Dr. Mubarik Ali, Ex-CEO PARB shared his valuable experience with all participants for the establishment of provincial boards in other provinces of Pakistan.
All the provincial partners appreciated the model of PARB. The other provincial partners have also given picture of their provinces and exchanged their views and comments.
All the provincial partners were of the view that provincial boards should be established in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh on the pattern of Punjab Agricultural Research Board model. The meeting also suggested that these boards should be independent in functioning of their activities in the provinces in granting research projects.