RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: “Pakistan is always projected as an agricultural-based country with majority of its population living in rural areas and relies on income from agribusiness.”

This was stated by Prof Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan, Vice Chancellor Karachi University (KU), while delivering his presidential remarks at the concluding ceremony of a four-day workshop on GREEN SPIN IN BIOTECHNOLOGY, organised by Dr AQ Khan Institute of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering (KIBGE), university of Karachi.

He said, “Crop production per acre in Pakistan is relatively lower than its neighbouring countries. With the advent of modern technologies, the gap between the production has widened. It is a need of the hour to make use of these technological advances to meet the drought-like situation and produce crops to meet the growing demands of increasing population.”

He said that it is heartening to see continued progress made by KIBGE and the fact that it is providing training to bidding scientists of the country through regular training programmes. Prof Khan said it is hoped that the coming generation will fulfil the promises made by the founding fathers of the country.

Dean Faculty of Sciences, Prof Tasneem Adam Ali, said that it is the duty of the largest university of the country to cater the needs of the knowledge-seekers not only from Karachi but all parts of the country and KIBGE is performing its role admirably well.

Prof Abid Azhar, Director General, KIBGE, KU, informed that one third of the participants of the workshop are from cities other than Karachi, including Bahawalpur, Jamshoro, Tando Jam, and others. The remaining participants were from various universities and research institutions of Karachi. He announced that the next workshop will be organised in December.