Minister for Agriculture Punjab Syed Muhammad Ashiq Hussain Kirmani visited Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi on Saturday, November 22, 2025, to review university-led initiatives that support the Agriculture Transformation agenda in the Potohar region. He was accompanied by Secretary Agriculture Punjab Mr. Iftikhar Ali Sahoo and received by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman along with the Registrar, deans, directors and senior faculty members.
The delegation toured the Center for Precision Agriculture, the China–Pakistan Research & Development Center for Modern Agriculture and Efficient Water Technologies, and the Green AI Hydroponic Unit, observing practical demonstrations of technology that can be deployed to raise on-farm productivity. The visit underscored the role of hydroponics and precision tools in accelerating Agriculture Transformation across local farming systems.
During a meeting chaired by the Minister, the Vice Chancellor presented ongoing projects and university interventions aimed at modernizing traditional agriculture through research-driven solutions. Minister Kirmani praised the university’s leadership in implementing components of the Chief Minister Punjab’s Agriculture Transformation Plan and urged the preparation of further proposals targeted at uplift in Potohar farming communities.
Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo briefed the Minister on steps taken by the agriculture department to strengthen coordination with universities, including new committees to identify field-level challenges and develop practical, research-backed responses. Emphasis was placed on joint projects and knowledge transfer to ensure that innovations translate into measurable improvements for farmers.
The Minister highlighted the importance of academia–industry–government collaboration and expressed keen interest in scaling hydroponic agriculture as a means to boost production and improve food security. The Vice Chancellor noted the university’s focus on capacity building, national and international conferences, and the indigenous development of affordable technologies, adding that faculty researchers have filed several patents with more under way.
The visit concluded with a renewed commitment to accelerate agricultural innovation, deepen partnerships with government agencies and the private sector, and prioritize initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to farmers in the Potohar region as part of the broader Agriculture Transformation effort.
