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LAHORE, Oct 07 (APP):Punjab University (PU) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali has said that cotton is an integral part of human civilization and history and a matter of Pakistan’s national security and survival.
He expressed these views while addressing the inaugural session of the two-day International Cotton Conference 2025 organized by the Punjab University Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB) in connection with World Cotton Day, held at the Sheikh Riazuddin Auditorium here on Tuesday.
President Pakistan Academy of Sciences Prof Dr Kausar Abdullah Malik, Chair Agripreneurship Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (Jeddah, KSA) Dr Osama Rayis, Chairman Tara Group of Pakistan Dr Khalid Hameed, President Sindh Seed Association Syed Nadeem Shah, Director General Punjab Agriculture Drug and Food Authority Dr Talat Naseer Pasha, Director CEMB Dr Muaz-ur-Rehman, Dr Muhammad Murtaza Noor from COMSTECH, researchers, scholars, and scientists from 21 national and international universities including those from the United States, China, Australia, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Central Asia, and Bangladesh participated in the event.
Addressing the conference, Prof Dr Muhammad Ali said that Pakistan had not been able to make the best use of its agricultural land. He remarked that it was unfortunate that agriculture was no longer a profitable business, despite being the main source of livelihood for millions in rural areas. He stressed the importance of providing basic facilities in rural regions to help control urban migration and said that greater government investment in agriculture was crucial to overcoming the ongoing agrarian crisis.
He said that due to high production costs, cotton was now being cultivated primarily by large-scale farmers, warning that wheat might face a similar fate if timely measures were not taken. He added that recent floods had caused severe damage to many crops and expressed satisfaction that CEMB-developed cotton seeds were being cultivated extensively across Pakistan.
On the occasion, Dr Osama Rayis emphasized the importance of integrating digital transformation and technology-driven innovation into sustainable agriculture.
Prof Dr Kausar Abdullah Malik shared insights on research related to Cotton Leaf Curl Virus, noting that the disease had caused billions of dollars in losses to Pakistan’s cotton industry in the past. He said that thanks to the research of Pakistani scientists, the viruses were identified, and government funding had helped the country avert further losses. He added that microbiota transplantation could prove to be a game changer against the virus.
Chairman Tara Group Dr Khalid Hameed said that climate change, water scarcity, substandard seeds, and outdated farming methods were serious challenges for the agricultural sector. He mentioned that CEMB seeds were now being cultivated on more than 50 percent of Punjab’s cotton-growing area.
President Sindh Seed Association Syed Nadeem Shah said that cotton seeds developed by Punjab University were being cultivated on around 80 percent of Sindh’s cotton-growing land. He appreciated Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for providing substantial relief to flood victims and urged the government to continue focusing on strengthening the agriculture sector.
Director CEMB Prof Dr Muaz-ur-Rehman thanked the participants and said that the Centre would continue working on reforms and innovation for the development of Pakistan’s agriculture sector. He highlighted CEMB’s pivotal role in the production of BT cotton and its contribution to improving the country’s cotton output.
Later, shields were presented to distinguished guests at the conference.