ID :
196385
Thu, 07/21/2011 - 20:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/196385
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COM: Pakistan has potential to emerge as Biotechnology leader: Minister
LAHORE, July 21, 2011 (PPI): Provincial Minister for Agriculture Ahmad Ali Aulakh has said that twenty first century belongs to Biotechnology and Pakistan has tremendous potential to emerge as
Biotechnology leader but to achieve the goal private sector, academia (scientists, researchers) and government would have to work hand in hand.
The Provincial Minister was speaking at a seminar on Bio-technology at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. LCCI former Senior Vice President Yaqoob Tahir Izhar, Vice Chancellor University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Prof Dr Mohammad Nawaz,
Dr Fareed A Malik from FC College, Dr Saleema Bashir from Kinnaird College, Dr Farkhanda Manzoor from Lahore College University, Dr Ghazanfar Ali Khan from Vehari Cotton Research Station, LCCI Executive Committee Members Dr Shahid Raza, Ghulam Sarwar Malik and
former EC Member Rehmatullah Javed also spoke on the occasion.
The Provincial Minister said that the Punjab government was giving a special focus on promotion of research and quality crops because it understands well the green revolution is only possible through genetic engineering. He urged the scientists to play their role for the promotion of Biotechnology in the country.
He said that Pakistan would have to focus on genetically modified and hybrid crops to tap true potential of agricultural productivity in the country.
The Provincial Minister, while stressing the need for establishment of institutes both at provincial and federal levels for creating awareness among the farming community about Genetically Modified (GM) technology, said that sustainability and improvement in crops yield are the major challenges to meet upcoming threats of increasing population and depleting water resources.
He said Biotechnology has shown considerable potential to raise agricultural productivity by addressing problems not solved through conventional research. Among other application of biotechnology, development of genetically modified organasims is the promising tool to facilitate plant breeding in development of crops to insect and tolerant to herbicide.
The Minister said that GM crops have contributed to sustainable development in several significant ways including: Contributing to food security and more affordable food, conserving biodiversity, alleviation of poverty and hunger, mitigating climate change and reducing greenhouses gases, contributing to the cost-effective production of biofuels and above all by contributing to sustainable economic benefits.
The genetically modified crops have an important role to play in lessening the environmental impact and improving the sustainability of food production. Insect-resistant rice, for example, has the potential to benefit about 1 billion people.
The LCCI former Senior Vice President Yaqoob Tahir Izhar said that PakistanIs agriculture sector was losing heavily due to insufficient utilization of biotechnology as the magic progress of
agriculture sector is only due to Genetically Modified crops. He said that agriculture sector in Pakistan has a huge potential.
It continues to be the single largest and dominant driving force for growth as well as the main source of livelihood for 66 percent of PakistanIs population. But it has always faced two major
problems: first, productions per acre are lower than many countries. Secondly, around 40% of production is wasted in the form of post-harvest losses due to insufficient utilization of
biotechnology.
He stressed the need for utilizing this beneficial technology for more and more production in various economic sectors.
The Vice Chancellor University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Professor Dr Muhammad Nawaz urged the government to patronize scientists working for the technology promotion and its upgradation in the country. He said that days are not very far when biopharmaceuticals will replace medicines in vogue in the country.
Dr Fareed Malik of FC College in his address said that Pakistan is a sleeping technology giant, the day it gets up, Pakistan would be another China. He said that it was very unfortunate that the
country did not have any framework for transfer of technology. He lamented that there are 400 research institutions in the country but their performance is not up the mark.
The LCCI Executive Committee Member and Convener Standing Committee on Biotechnology Dr Shahid Raza, while speaking on the occasion, said that local R& D and Industry-University linkage is vital for progress and prosperity of the country. He urged the government to ensure application of bio-technology in Agriculture, Health, Environment and Industry. He said that collaboration with international research institutes can help achieve targets in all sectors of the economy.
Biotechnology leader but to achieve the goal private sector, academia (scientists, researchers) and government would have to work hand in hand.
The Provincial Minister was speaking at a seminar on Bio-technology at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. LCCI former Senior Vice President Yaqoob Tahir Izhar, Vice Chancellor University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Prof Dr Mohammad Nawaz,
Dr Fareed A Malik from FC College, Dr Saleema Bashir from Kinnaird College, Dr Farkhanda Manzoor from Lahore College University, Dr Ghazanfar Ali Khan from Vehari Cotton Research Station, LCCI Executive Committee Members Dr Shahid Raza, Ghulam Sarwar Malik and
former EC Member Rehmatullah Javed also spoke on the occasion.
The Provincial Minister said that the Punjab government was giving a special focus on promotion of research and quality crops because it understands well the green revolution is only possible through genetic engineering. He urged the scientists to play their role for the promotion of Biotechnology in the country.
He said that Pakistan would have to focus on genetically modified and hybrid crops to tap true potential of agricultural productivity in the country.
The Provincial Minister, while stressing the need for establishment of institutes both at provincial and federal levels for creating awareness among the farming community about Genetically Modified (GM) technology, said that sustainability and improvement in crops yield are the major challenges to meet upcoming threats of increasing population and depleting water resources.
He said Biotechnology has shown considerable potential to raise agricultural productivity by addressing problems not solved through conventional research. Among other application of biotechnology, development of genetically modified organasims is the promising tool to facilitate plant breeding in development of crops to insect and tolerant to herbicide.
The Minister said that GM crops have contributed to sustainable development in several significant ways including: Contributing to food security and more affordable food, conserving biodiversity, alleviation of poverty and hunger, mitigating climate change and reducing greenhouses gases, contributing to the cost-effective production of biofuels and above all by contributing to sustainable economic benefits.
The genetically modified crops have an important role to play in lessening the environmental impact and improving the sustainability of food production. Insect-resistant rice, for example, has the potential to benefit about 1 billion people.
The LCCI former Senior Vice President Yaqoob Tahir Izhar said that PakistanIs agriculture sector was losing heavily due to insufficient utilization of biotechnology as the magic progress of
agriculture sector is only due to Genetically Modified crops. He said that agriculture sector in Pakistan has a huge potential.
It continues to be the single largest and dominant driving force for growth as well as the main source of livelihood for 66 percent of PakistanIs population. But it has always faced two major
problems: first, productions per acre are lower than many countries. Secondly, around 40% of production is wasted in the form of post-harvest losses due to insufficient utilization of
biotechnology.
He stressed the need for utilizing this beneficial technology for more and more production in various economic sectors.
The Vice Chancellor University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Professor Dr Muhammad Nawaz urged the government to patronize scientists working for the technology promotion and its upgradation in the country. He said that days are not very far when biopharmaceuticals will replace medicines in vogue in the country.
Dr Fareed Malik of FC College in his address said that Pakistan is a sleeping technology giant, the day it gets up, Pakistan would be another China. He said that it was very unfortunate that the
country did not have any framework for transfer of technology. He lamented that there are 400 research institutions in the country but their performance is not up the mark.
The LCCI Executive Committee Member and Convener Standing Committee on Biotechnology Dr Shahid Raza, while speaking on the occasion, said that local R& D and Industry-University linkage is vital for progress and prosperity of the country. He urged the government to ensure application of bio-technology in Agriculture, Health, Environment and Industry. He said that collaboration with international research institutes can help achieve targets in all sectors of the economy.
