Vice Chancellor Hazara University Mansehra, Prof. Dr. Mohsin Nawaz has said that as 24% of the country’s GDP is dependent on agriculture, therefore it is vital to develop agri sector on modern lines to achieve the dream of development and prosperity.
This was stated by him which addressing the opening ceremony of the first 3-day international conference on “Sustainable Agriculture and Genetic Resources” organized by the Department of Agriculture, Hazara University. Prof. Dr. Mohsin Nawaz said that it was matter of grave concern that Pakistan despite being an agricultural country has to spend hefty amount annually on import of edible oil to meet the local needs.
We need to pay special attention to this sector and take steps so that the national capital spent on imports can be saved by meeting the requirements of edible oil at the domestic level, he added. The Vice Chancellor further said that we were not only academicians and researchers but also monitor to protect natural environment.
Dr Mohsin informed the participants that more than 60% of the women in rural areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were engaged in agriculture.—INP
