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Agri Varsity playing key role in economic uplift: VC

RECORDER REPORT

FAISALABAD: Prof. Dr. Riaz Hussain Qureshi, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, said on Sunday that good irrigation system and controlled water management are the key indicators of economic development.

Fortunately, he said, Pakistan has the best irrigation system in the world in the shape of network of canals and rivers as well as the Faisalabad Agriculture University is playing functional role not only by imparting irrigation education in a standard form both at graduate and post-graduate levels but also by making research endeavors.

He expressed these views during a meeting with a International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI) contingent which visited here in the campus.

He also said in line with the government policies some structural rearrangements are being launched by the university to bring about revolutionary changes in the water management sector so that consumers of irrigation water could claim themselves part and parcel of this system.

The IIMI contingent comprised Dr. Evan Cristen, Research scientist, CSIRO, Australia; Dr. Waqar Jehangir, Senior Agricultural Economist; Dr. Muhammad Aslam, Senior Irrigation Engineer; Dr. Shafqat, Senior Civil Engineer; Dr. Asghar Cheema, Senior Sociologist and Dr. M. Akhtar Bhatti, Project Implementation Office headed by a Sri Lankan-based Dr. S. A Prathopar, Director, International Irrigation Management Institute, Lahore.

Prof. Dr. Riaz Hussain Qureshi told the contingent that the Ph.D. programme had also been started in the University for agricultural and irrigation engineers so that the high objectives could be achieved in this discipline.

Dr. S. A Parthopar emphasised the participatory approach in the development of water course and in the appropriate water allocation to the level of optimal efficiency.

The first female graduate in Agricultural Engineering was also introduced to the members of the delegation.

Dr. Prathopar said that IIMI would encourage the women folk of the country for seeking higher education in irrigation engineering and their participation in the field sector would be made efficient and productive.