Deepening PAK-CHINA collaboration will have a transformative impact on the agriculture sector.Chairman PARC, Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali

Islamabad: (PR&P PARC)A delegation, led by Mr. Wu Yuelang, Department of Science and Technology, Hubei Province, China visited the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) in Islamabad as part of their visit to Pakistan. Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmed Khan, Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture Faisalabad, and Dr. Muhammad Jaffar Jaskani, Director ORIC, along with other high official from University of Agriculture Faisalabad were also present at the occasion. The delegation included Ms. Shi Hong, Director of the Social Development Technology Division, Mr. Ye Lin, an Officer from Hubei Province, Mr. Xiao Xuan, the Deputy Dean of Hubei General Hospital, and other esteemed officials from Hubei Province, China.

Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, Chairman of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), extended a warm welcome to the esteemed guests and presented an overview of PARC’s endeavors dedicated to fostering innovation in the agriculture sector. Dr. Ali highlighted that PARC actively engaged in agricultural research and development across ten distinct agro-ecological regions of the country, forging collaborations with domestic as well as international institutions. Furthermore, Dr. Ali highlighted the longstanding partnership between PARC and Chinese research institutes in the field of agriculture.

Mr. Wu Yuelang conveyed his gratitude to Chairman PARC for the warm reception and highlighted the significant expertise of the Hubei Agriculture Research Institute in areas such as hybrid rice, soybean, citrus, and animal vaccination. In addition, he stressed the institute’s exceptional competence in carrying out scientific research activities. Mr. Yuelang expressed a keen interest in sharing their research findings and fostering collaboration with PARC, aiming to gain insights from the experiences of Pakistani agricultural researchers. Furthermore, he emphasized that fostering collaboration in agricultural research would not only enhance scientific advancements but also reinforce the brotherly ties between the two nations.

During their visit, the delegation had the opportunity to explore the research laboratories at the National Institute of Genomics and Agricultural Biotechnology (NIGAB) and the Plant Genetic Resources Institute (PGRI), where they expressed their admiration for the ongoing research activities. Chairman of PARC provided a briefing on the ongoing activities and research highlights taking place at NARC, covering diverse areas including the enhancement of crop genetics and advancements in functional genomics. Chairman of PARC also extended his gratitude to Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmed Khan, Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, and his team for their exceptional organization and facilitation of the visit, acknowledging their efforts in strengthening collaboration between the two countries in the field of agricultural research. To mark the conclusion of the visit, Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali presented PARC shields as tokens of appreciation to the delegation.