ISLAMABAD: (Parliament Times) (PR) Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan, Chairman, PARC and Dr. Attaullah Khan, Director General SARC, visited CDRI. Dr. Nasreen Sultana, Director CDRI, the officers and staff at CDRI gave warm welcome
to Chairman PARC. The Chairman PARC visited experimental field at CDRI and was briefed about the
wheat trial by Mr. Khalil Khanzada, SSO at CDRI. Chairman PARC appreciated the efforts taken by
the scientist of CDRI in wheat rust research. During discussion Chairman PARC was in view that there
is a lacking in seed system for new wheat germ plasm, he advised that the new varieties should be
added in Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) of PARC and backup to private sector for seed
multiplication. Chairman urged to work on tomato during summer under Responsive Drip Irrigation
(RDI) system for vegetable cultivation.
The Chairman PARC inaugurated the High Efficiency Irrigation system installed at SARC experimental
field. Dr. Kamran Baksh, Senior Engineer briefed about the land preparation for Brazilian seed less
lemon and grapes. Chairman along with DG SARC planted lemon and grape plant under drip irrigation
system. Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan briefed about the smart irrigation device installed under grafted
Ber plants for crop scheduling. Dr.Attaullah Khan Director General, SARC briefed about the ongoing
activities and showed the newly developed land area of five acres for plantation. Chairman PARC
appreciated the efforts taken by Director General SARC and his teamfor radical improvement in short
period of time.
Chairman PARC visited the FQSRI and was briefed by Dr. Akhlaq Ahmed, Director FQSRI regarding
lab activities. Chairman PARC highlighted the importance of dried Ber and brown rice. The Chairman
advised to generate demand of the product. The Chairman also highlighted that the varietal purity is a
big challenge in Basmati rice.
Chairman, PARC also briefed by Miss Sundus Riaz, SO, FQSRI on different extract in lab including
Neem, Garlic, Mint and Rose and its role in whitefly control. The Chairman appreciated the work done
on essential oil. Chairman PARC advised to submit project on essential oil distillery for commercial
production. Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan advised to develop value added dried products including
Mango, Onion and Tomato. He also highlighted the issue in Date drying, scientist from FQSRI should
work on two aspects, first on early maturity and second on drying and value addition, Furthermore, he
also emphasized on cold chain and vacuum-packed food product for international market.
After that Chairman PARC and Director General SARC had a meeting with Dr. Khalid Mehmood Iraqi,
the Vice Chancellor, University of Karachi. The Vice Chancellor briefed about the University and its
research institutes. Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan highlighted the importance of Urban Agriculture in
Karachi and offered the vice chancellor to utilize its barren land for vegetable and flower production.
Chairman PARC advised Director General SARC for the linkage development with academia and
related institutes.
The Vice Chancellor was thankful to the Chairman, PARC for his visit and also offered the possible
support for upliftment of urban agriculture .Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan held a meeting with Mr.
Nausherwan Hyder, CEO Sprout Biotech lab for uplift of banana tissue culture lab in collaboration with
PARC-SARC, Karachi. The Chairman PARC conducted a meeting with senior scientists at conference
room SARC. During meeting Chairman PARC exchanged the views, comments, research work and
future plan of SARC, he directed the scientist to work on challenges of food security and socio-
economic development.
