UAF Rabi Festival Starts

FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 02nd Nov, 2016 ) : Speakers at an inaugural session of the Rabi Festival and DICE business Plan Competition at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) on Wednesday called for strengthening industry-academia linkages and promotion innovative approaches to fight challenges of modern era.

Chairing an inaugural session of a six-day Rabi Festival, including two-days DICE competition, organized at the UAF, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said strong academia-industry linkages would pave way to address issues of food security, poverty alleviation and health sector.

He said that the agriculture was the backbone of the country which was contributing 21 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product. He stressed upon the need to come up with out-of-the-box solutions to problems of the general public and the farming community.

He said the UAF was the only institution ranked among the top 100 varsities of the globe in any category. The university students current enrollment has surpassed 23000 whereas it was offering 165 degree programmes with a special focus on agriculture and rural development.

Vice President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) Ahmad Hassan said that there was dire need to bridge gap between Academia and Industry.

He said that strong academia-industry linkages were imperative to make development and to compete with rest of the world.

DICE Chairman Sohail Jamal said that innovation was lifeblood of any nation and economy and was a key ingredient behind its sustainable progress and prosperity. Meanwhile, the UAF spokesman said on November 3, the Dice contest prize distribution would be held at 5:00 pm at Exhibition Center.

On November 4, one-day seminar on Indus Water Treaty will be held at 1:00 am at New Senate Hall with WAPDA Chairman Muzammil Hussain as the chief guest. On November 5, the Agri Exhibition will begin at exhibition center at 9:30 am following an international seminar on Cotton at New Senate Hall in which experts from 40 countries are taking part.

A basketball match will be held at University Ground at 3:00 pm. On November 6, Punjab Agricultural Secretary Muhammad Mahmmod will chair the Farmer Convention at Iqbal Auditorium at 10:30 am. Kabadi match and Tug-of-War will be arranged at 3:00 pm at University Ground and a cultural night at Iqbal Auditorium.

On November 7, prize distribution of Agri Exhibition will be arranged at the Expo center at 5:00pm.