Tandojam: A group of 37 BS-17 officers taking part in the 53rd Common Training Programme (CTP) visited Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam as part of a study tour of Sindh.
The officers are currently under training and visited the university to learn about agricultural education, research and modern farming methods. They were also briefed about climate change, water resource management, sustainable agricultural development and food security.
The delegation was led by Deputy Director of the Training Centre Akhtar Mahmood, Muhammad Ijaz and Aftab Akram Chauhan.
The study tour was organized by the Secretariat Training Institute (STI), Islamabad. The main purpose of the tour was to give trainee officers an opportunity to visit important government and educational institutions and observe their work in practice.
The programme was also designed to improve the officers’ understanding of governance, cooperation between institutions, regional conditions and social and economic development.
An introductory meeting was held at the Senate Hall of Sindh Agriculture University. The meeting was chaired by Vice Chancellor Engineer Professor Dr Altaf Ali Siyal.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Altaf Ali Siyal said that Sindh Agriculture University was moving towards completing 50 years of its establishment.
He said the university has played an important role in providing trained human resources to the agricultural sector, government institutions and private organizations.
The vice chancellor said the university was working in several areas, including agricultural sciences, veterinary sciences, information technology, banking and social sciences.
He said the university was also conducting both basic and applied research in different fields.
Dr Altaf Ali Siyal said that Pakistan’s agricultural production was still below its required potential for several reasons.
He stressed that the country needs to adopt modern agricultural technologies to increase production and improve the overall performance of the agriculture sector.
According to the vice chancellor, Pakistan is currently at an early stage of adopting precision and data-based agriculture.
He said further progress was also needed in smart agriculture and robotic agriculture.
Dr Altaf Ali Siyal said that although Pakistan is an agricultural country, the agriculture sector contributes around 24 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He said coordinated and integrated efforts were necessary to increase agricultural production, improve water use, promote modern technology and help farmers adapt to climate change.
Addressing the trainee officers, the vice chancellor said they would soon take important responsibilities in different government institutions.
He advised them to understand how institutions work and to develop a better understanding of public issues and the main sectors of the national economy.
He said this understanding would help them perform their future government responsibilities more effectively.
Dr Altaf Ali Siyal also highlighted the university’s efforts to provide higher education opportunities to students from low-income families.
He said the university was trying to provide quality education at affordable fees so that students from less privileged backgrounds could also receive higher education.
Dean Faculty of Crop Protection and Adviser Directorate of Advanced Studies Dr Abdul Mubeen Lodhi gave the visiting officers a detailed briefing.
He explained the university’s educational programmes, research activities, infrastructure and the performance of its different departments.
Registrar Ghulam Mueenuddin Qureshi welcomed the delegation to the university.
Adviser Quality Enhancement Cell Saleem Masih Bhatti performed the duties of host during the event.
The visiting officers appreciated the university’s teaching environment, research activities, infrastructure and efforts in different fields.
Akhtar Mahmood, Muhammad Ijaz and Ms Fatima described Sindh Agriculture University as an important university at the national level.
During the study tour, the delegation also visited several facilities of the university.
The officers visited the Horticulture Garden, Sports Complex and Malir Model Farm.
They also visited different laboratories of the Faculty of Crop Protection and other academic and administrative departments.
The visits gave the trainee officers an opportunity to observe the university’s educational and research facilities directly.
The programme also helped the officers understand the practical role of educational and research institutions in the development of the agriculture sector.
The university officials explained how research, modern technology and trained professionals can contribute to improving agricultural production and addressing challenges such as climate change and water shortages.
The visit was part of the broader study tour of Sindh organized for officers participating in the 53rd Common Training Programme.
Such study tours provide trainee government officers with practical knowledge about important institutions and their role in national development.
The visit to Sindh Agriculture University also highlighted the importance of agriculture, education, research and technology in Pakistan’s economic development.
The delegation completed its visit after touring the university’s major academic, research and administrative facilities.
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