Pakistan: UAF, HBL to enhance collaboration for agricultural development
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and Habib Bank Limited (HBL) will strengthen their collaboration for the promotion of agriculture, farmer training, technology transfer and sustainable development.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali and a delegation of HBL officials, including Omer Nazir Waraich, GM SME and Agri, Sarfraz Hussain, GM, Agri Sale, and Shehlaly Javed Khan, Head HR Relationship Management Central, held at the university.
Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali said that university and financial institutions needed to work together to address the emerging challenges faced by the agriculture sector and provide farmers with access to modern technologies, knowledge and financial services.
He said UAF was ready to facilitate HBL in developing programmes aimed at capacity-building of farmers, promotion of innovative agricultural practices and technology transfer.
He said stronger university-industry linkages could help improve farm productivity, reduce production costs and promote sustainable agriculture. “UAF will extend its expertise and research support for initiatives aimed at empowering farmers and strengthening the agricultural value chain,” he added.
Omer Nazir Waraich, GM SME and Agri, HBL, said the bank was keen to expand its engagement with UAF to support the farming community through training, awareness, financial solutions and technology-oriented initiatives.
He said collaboration with an institution like UAF would help HBL better understand the needs of farmers and develop practical interventions for agricultural growth. Both sides agreed to explore joint initiatives focusing on farmer training, Agri-financing awareness, technology transfer, entrepreneurship and sustainable agricultural practices.
Sarfraz Hussain said collaboration between HBL and UAF could play an important role in connecting farmers with modern agricultural solutions and improving their access to relevant financial and technical support.
He said HBL was committed to working with UAF to develop initiatives that could benefit farmers, enhance agricultural productivity and contribute to the sustainable growth of the sector.
Reference Link:- https://www.brecorder.com/news/40435618
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
