Agriculture minister inaugurates advanced solarization project at Arid University

RAWALPINDI, Jul 20 (APP): Punjab Minister for Agriculture, Syed Muhammad Ashiq Hussain Kirmani on Monday inaugurated a modern solarization project at the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) to promote renewable energy and environmental sustainability across higher education institutions.

The minister was accompanied by Punjab Agriculture Secretary, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo. The dignitaries termed the green energy initiative a landmark milestone for energy efficiency and eco-friendly technology adoption, noting that the university’s solarization model would serve as an exemplary benchmark for other educational institutions.

Following the inauguration, the minister chaired a high-level review meeting to thoroughly evaluate the university’s ongoing development schemes, collaborative research portfolios, and future strategic frameworks.

Syed Muhammad Ashiq Hussain Kirmani lauded the institutional vision of Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman and commended the continuous efforts of the faculty and management teams in successfully executing multiple academic and development projects.

The Minister reiterated the commitment of the Punjab government and the agriculture department to provide full patronage to provincial agricultural universities. He maintained that all available resources would be utilized to modernize agricultural research and further strengthen the institutional linkages between the universities and the agriculture department.

Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman gave a detailed briefing on the university’s performance, innovation tracks, entrepreneurship drives, and community outreach services. He highlighted several specialized initiatives, including the ‘Training of Trainers’ faculty development programme, the climate-resilient groundnut value chain development project aimed at boosting rural economic empowerment, the farmers’ call centre, and agricultural advisory services. He added that the university’s Business Incubation Centre was being upgraded into a modern agri-entrepreneurship hub.

Punjab Agriculture Secretary, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo appreciated the research environment and academic standards of the university, adding that the agriculture department was expanding its mutual cooperation with all agricultural universities across the province to ensure the timely completion of joint research and development initiatives for agricultural growth and farmers’ prosperity.