RAWALPINDI (special crosspondent) – Punjab Minister for Agriculture Syed Muhammad Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, accompanied by Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Mr. Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, officially inaugurated the state-of-the-art Solarization Project at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR). The Minister lauded the project as a pivotal advancement in the promotion of renewable energy, environmental sustainability, and operational energy efficiency within higher education institutions. Minister Kirmani commended the university’s proactive integration of green technologies, identifying the initiative as an exemplary model for other academic institutions to emulate.

Review of Academic and Development Initiatives

Following the formal inauguration, Minister Kirmani chaired a high-level meeting to evaluate the university’s ongoing development projects and its long-term strategic roadmap. During the proceedings, the Minister expressed significant appreciation for the leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman, acknowledging the diligent efforts of the faculty and administration in executing high-impact research and academic programs. The Minister reaffirmed that the Government of Punjab and the Punjab Agriculture Department remain dedicated to supporting regional agricultural universities by fostering research collaborations and promoting technology transfer.

Future Roadmap and Innovation Hubs

Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman provided a comprehensive presentation detailing the institution’s strategic goals. Key focus areas included the Faculty Development Program (Training of Trainers – ToT), the Climate-Resilient Peanut Value Chain Development project aimed at rural economic graduation, and the operation of the Farmers’ Call Centre. Furthermore, the discussion emphasized the ongoing transformation of the University’s Business Incubation Center (BIC) into a specialized Agri-Entrepreneurship Hub designed to drive innovation. Consistent with broader administrative goals, such as those seen in initiatives like PM Shehbaz Reviews Pakistan Railways Transformation Plan, the university aims to modernize its infrastructure to better serve the community. Secretary Agriculture Punjab Mr. Iftikhar Ali Sahoo concluded by highlighting that the agriculture department is actively strengthening its partnerships with provincial academic institutions to ensure the successful delivery of joint agricultural policies and development mandates, as discussed in recent administrative reviews involving officials like Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.