This edition includesThis edition includesThis edition includes

Ÿ ACIAR and MNSUAM Join Hands

to extend Collaboration

Ÿ Secretary Agriculture Punjab visits

MNSUAM

Ÿ Kashmir Solidarity Day celebration at

MNSUAM

Ÿ Meeting of BOS, Depar tment of

Agricultural Engineering

Ÿ Kitchen gardening campaign

Ÿ Breast cancer awareness seminar

Ÿ Seminar on Bees as Pollinators

Ÿ Inauguration of new computer lab at

MNSUAM

Ÿ NAEAC team visited MNSUAM

Ÿ Seminar on Elemental and Genetic

Analysis of Cotton Crop

Ÿ Gold medal awarded to Prof. Dr. Shafqat

saeed, Dean, FA&ES

Ÿ Success story of Ms. Fatima Bukhari –

student of MNSUAM

Ÿ Success story of Ms. Iqra Zaheen –

A Primary source of authentic news and information about academics, extra-curriculum activities, policy p e r s p e c t i v e a n d i n s t i t u t i o n development.

Volume ( 3 ) , Number ( 3 )Volume ( 3 ) , Number ( 3 )February 01- February 15, 2018February 01- February 15, 2018

Volume ( 3 ) , Number ( 3 )February 01- February 15, 2018

01-15 February, 2018

01-15 February, 2018

01-15 February, 2018

A delegation of Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) met with the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Asif Ali on Feb. 2, 2018. The four-member delegation was comprised of Prof. Dr. E.G. Barrert Lennard, Dr. Michael Mitchell, Murdoch University, Perth - Australia, Dr. Richard from Sri Lanka, and Dr. Jahangir, Director Ecoseal Developments Pvt. Ltd. The purpose of this meeting was to develop joint research ventures between ACIAR and MNSUAM. It was decided that MNSUAM will engage in joint research and development programs in Pakistan for turning the salt affected and water-logged soils into productive ones. This project will be launched in Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan provinces and carried out in collaboration with various universities and research institutions of these provinces. Talking on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Asif Ali informed the delegation that South Punjab has become the heart of agricultural activities in Pakistan, and the MNSUAM is striving hard to facilitate the farming community of this region regarding innovations and technology transfer. The Vice Chancellor also briefed the delegation about the University's pivotal role in development of Agriculture sector in this dynamic region. Afterwards, the delegation visited MNSUAM Experimental Farm at Jalalpur Pirwala and promised to extend their cooperation in improving the soil health, crop productivity and protability at the farm.

ACIAR AND MNSUAM JOIN HANDS TO EXTEND COLLABORATION

PEARLS OF MNSUAM

during and after the spray. They agreed their mistakes to correct themselves as advised by me. I took a new step and also taught these safety measures to the female community of that village. I made them agree to play their part in the “Safe use of Pesticides” for their own and household safety. It was a marvelous experience for me. This experience increased my self-condence and eager to participate in such activities.As per Bayer requirement I made a video, farmers list and experience report. I am really delighted to hear that I am the winner from the Pakistan and get a chance to represent my University and Country in Germany. I would like to dedicate my success to my honorable teachers and parents because of their support. Thank you Bayer and MNSUAM for giving me this opportunity and selecting me for this moral task.The day it was announced by BAYER that a student of MNSUAM has won this competition, the proud smile on the face of Vice Chancellor was sign of where he want to see his students. Prof. Dr. Asif Ali appreciated the entire team behind this success and urged other students to be model like Fatima Bukhari, a girl in veil but a land mark.

Success Story of Iqra ZaheenStudent of MNSUAM

Ms. Iqra Zaheen- a student of B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture at MNSUAM is the only student who was selected by British Council for International Study Visit to UK. She was selected for her brilliant performance in a Social Action Plan designed by students under the course Ac t i ve C i t i z ensh ip Educa t i on – Community Engagement. Iqra Zaheen and Mr. Samiullah Sipra formulated Shaheen Group to work on the broken wall of Pull Sipra (Mehmood Kot Canal

near Muzaffar Garh). Younger brother of Mr. Samiullah lost his life like many other people of the area when fallen to unbarred bridge of the canal. This incident urged Shaheen Group to stand up for his community.

A group of students and faculty members from MNSUAM visited that bridge in 2016, talked to local people and discussed the opportunities that how the unbarred canal can be made secure for people of this area. Local community responded to this call and joined hands with University and as a result, the broken wall of canal was built just in a week.

This effort was highly appreciated by community and ultimately this group was selected by British council Pakistan to attend the Showcasing event in Islamabad. A good example of community service helped Shaheen Group to receive Best Social Action Plan award by British Council during 2017.

As a token of acknowledgement for the services of the Shaheen Group, Ms. Iqra Zaheen was selected for International Study Visit by British Council and she was the only student from MNSUAM who represented the Pakistan in UK in February 2018.

Iqra is now a source of inspiration for students of MNSUAM to represent her institution over the world. On her return to Pakistan, Vice Chancellor MNSUAM appreciated this brilliant student and Shaheen Group along with faculty members involved particularly Mr. Naeem Toor, Ms. Bakhtawar Rana and Dr. Mirza Abdul Qayyum (Director, Students Affairs) for nding and polishing such golden stuff, which is pride for University, Multan city and Pakistan.

01-15 February, 2018

The Secretary for Agriculture, Punjab, Capt. (R) Muhammad Mahmood visited Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan and met with the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Asif Ali. The Secre ta r y obser ved the on-go ing developmental work at the University. He urged that the establishment of the University's main campus at earliest is the top-most priority of Government of the Punjab, which is a boon for the people of this area. He promised his unconditional support for this noble cause. On this occasion, the VC, Prof. Dr. Asif Ali, said that the University's new campus will be state of the art and equipped with all modern facilities. He further said that the University is working hard to achieve the objectives set-forth and acquiring positive results.

SECRETARY AGRICULTURE PUNJAB VISITS MNSUAM

KASHMIR DAY CELEBRATION AT MNSUAMKashmir Solidarity Day was observed on Friday, February 5, 2016 at MNSUAM. To express solidarity with the people of Kashmir, a special ceremony was held at Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, which was presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Asif Ali. Students of MNSUAM expressed their solidarity to Kashmiri brethren in debates, poetry, posters, videos and calligraphy. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Asif Ali addressed to the participants and said that whenever there is a bilateral talk between Pakistan and India, all other problems are discussed but the issue of Kashmir is always neglected. The issue has been a bone of contention between the two countries and we need to try more seriously towards its solution. The people of Kashmir want freedom, which is their basic right. Peaceful and economically sound Pakistan is mandatory for the Kashmir cause, he added. On this occasion, Mr. Rasheed Ahmed, Lecturer, MNSUAM gave a thought provoking lecture on Kashmir from a historical perspective. He said that we should learn from China who got his territory issues settled with the passage of time in a peaceful manner. Both Pakistan and India should solve this problem with bilateral talk; using military power and militancy will only bring more devastation to Kashmir and its people. A solidarity walk was also held to mark the day and participants deplored that India continued to violate human rights in Kashmir and Pakistan would never waver from its principled stance on Kashmir. Participants called upon India to immediately stop human rights violations in held Kashmir and give the right of freedom to the people of Kashmiris according to the UN Charter.

Glimpse of Visit of Secretary Agriculture

to MNSUAM

Glimpses of Kashmir Solidarity Day

Page 2 01-15 February, 2018

MEETING OF BOARD OF STUDIESDEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING

A meeting of the Board of Studies of Department of Agricultural Engineering was held on Feb. 6, 2018. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Alamgir Akhtar Khan, Chairman, Department of Agricultural Engineering. The house endorsed the decision to launch B.Sc. (Hons.) Agro-Industrial Engineering Technology program. This program is a pioneer program in the country and being offered for the rst time with collaboration of various agro-based industries. Students will be hands on training and practical knowledge regarding various agro-based industries like feed mills, our mills, rice mills, sugar mills, ginning mills, oil mills, solvent mills etc. This program will be unique in the sense that it will concentrate on real life issues faced by the industrial sector. The core objective of this course is to enable the graduates to design and manufacture modern machinery within the country to reduce imports. Since there are several agro-based industries in South Punjab, MNSUAM has taken this initiative to introduce an agro-Industry based engineering program. Admission criteria and program curriculum were also discussed. Besides the Vice Chancellor, the senior faculty of University, representatives of Industry and related stakeholders were present in the meeting.

KITCHEN GARDENING CAMPAIGNThe MNSUAM has initiated an awareness and training campaign to highlight the signicance of vegetables in life and kitchen gardening in collaboration with USAID, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Agriculture Innovation Program (AIP) and CIMMYT. In this regard, an awareness seminar was held at MNSUAM. Speaking on the occasion, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Prof. Dr. Shafqat Saeed highlighted the hazardous effects of vegetables produced with sewage water and stressed upon the need to promote kitchen gardening for a balanced diet and healthy life style. Page#4

Glimpses of Kitchen Gardening Project Outreach Activities

Meeting of Board of Studies – Department of Agricultural Engineering

Page 3

01-15 February, 2018

The Graduate Resource Center of MNSUAM organized an awareness seminar on Feb. 7, 2018 regarding the role of insects for sustaining life. The Vice Chancellor MNSUAM, Prof. Dr. Asif Ali, and Director General Agriculture Extension and Adaptive Research, Mr. Zafaryab Haider were the distinguished guests of this seminar. The Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Prof. Dr. Shafqat Saeed gave a comprehensive lecture on the role of pollination, pollinator and food production to increase agricultural production. He said that by allowing honey bees and other benecial bees to visit the crops, the production can be increased up to 100%. Moreover, fruit nutritional prole can also be increased with this method. While, talking about honey bees and other insects, he said that bees are responsible for better fruit/seed set, and increase in crop yields all around the world. All developed countries are using bees to increase production of their crops and we should also do the same. He further talked about various species of fruits and owers that perform better when pollinated by bees or other pollinators. Prof. Dr. Asif Ali and Mr. Zafaryab Haider appreciated the awareness seminar and the research work done by Prof. Dr. Shafqat Saeed.

SEMINAR ON BEES AS POLLINATORS

INAUGURATION OF NEW COMPUTER LAB AT MNSUAMProf. Dr. Asif Ali, Vice Chancellor, inaugurated another Computer Lab at Department of Computer Science, MNSUAM. This new computer lab has been established with the Department's own students' efforts under the

Speaker and Participant of the Seminar on Bees as Pollinators

Group Photo After Inauguration of

New Computer Lab

Page 5

supervision of their teachers. All networking and installation work of computer in the lab has been done by the University's students. The lab is equipped with more than 50 latest computer systems to provide students with opportunity to benet from modern technology. While inaugurating the computer lab, Prof. Dr. Asif Ali said that we can compete with the world through judicious use of Information Technology. Now, agriculture sector has also been connected with information technology and without using it we cannot excel in this eld. He further said that more computer labs would be established in future at the University, so that students have more access to modern ways of learning.

01-15 February, 2018

He informed that nursery for kitchen gardening would be available soon at different spots of the city, adding that by growing vegetables at home, the citizens would be able to get fresh veggies. Mr. Nabeel Ikram said that the overall objectives of this project are to promote kitchen gardening by establishing a system for provision of certied healthy nursery to general public. The project will also address other issues like capacity building for economical and clean (pesticide free) vegetable production, household saving. He informed that people could buy the nursery online at (https://mnsuam.edu.pk/vegetable-nurser y-production-and-supply-system-for-kitchen-gardening/) from University website or from different outlets with in the city. A good number of students attended the seminar.Under the umbrella of this project, an outreach activity was carried out in the Committee Hall, of Beacon House School Cantt Campus, Multan on Feb. 8, 2018. This Campaign enabled the student to understand the benets of kitchen gardening and techniques of vegetable production through nursery at house hold level. School Principal appreciated the efforts of MNSUAM for creating awareness among students regarding kitchen gardening. She also acknowledged AIP, USAID, PARC and CIMMYT for providing funding for this project.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS SEMINAR

An all-female seminar on breast cancer awareness was held at MNSUAM on Feb. 7, 2018. Dr. Nighat Naureen, Assistant Professor, Nishtar Medical College spoke and educated the female audience on the topic. She discussed different aspects of breast cancer including an elaborate dialogue on its causes, symptoms, treatment options, self-examination and preventive measures. She dismantled all myths and overcame taboos concerning breast cancer and gave students the entire spectrum of the topic on basis of factual accuracy. She urged that female should not only get their regular medical checkups but also should be aware of how to diagnose a disease. She further said that women above 40 years of age should have mammography test once a year to avoid problems. She encouraged the participants to pass on this important and valuable information to their female peers and family members. Brochures on understanding breast cancer were also distributed amongst the audience.

Glimpses of Kitchen Gardening Project Outreach Activities

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01-15 February, 2018

NAEAC TEAM VISITS MNSUAThe National Agriculture Education Accreditation Council (NAEAC) of HEC paid visit to Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan. The council visited different departments of the varsity including Agronomy, Entomology, Food Science and Technology, Horticulture, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Soil & Environmental Sciences, Seed Science & Technology and inspected the available infrastructure and learning facilities for various degree programs. During their visit, the team comprising members of the council met with the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Asif Ali. He briefed them about the developmental work of University's new campus as well as extension in the existing building. The council was informed that the enrollment at the University has increased over 2000. The University is taking steps to introduce modern technology to local farmers and making them aware of modern agriculture. Also, the sh farming on experimental farm of the University at Jalalpur Pirwala has been initiated, which has produced positive results. The Vice Chancellor further apprised the council that Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture has instigated South Punjab Agricultural Forum by uniting different agriculture related organizations situated in surroundings of the University.Subject experts of various disciplines visited the departments and labs of respective departments and gave critical inputs/suggestions to improve the physical infrastructure and technical resources of MNSUAM. During their visit, the council examined tunnel farming, new under construction buildings, hydroponic, experimental farm house and modern laboratories. Interviews of the students were also conducted by NAEAC team and exchanged views with the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Prof. Dr Shafqat Saeed. The Council appreciated the steps taken by MNSUAM Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr Asif Ali, for the progress and prosperity of the university. Led by the Chairman M.E. Tusneem, the NAEAC team consisted of Secretary Mr. Naseer Alam Khan, and experts Prof. Dr. Bismillah Khan, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aslam, Prof. Dr. Abdul Qayyum, Dr. Rasheed Anwar, Prof. Dr. Saeed Akhtar, Prof. Dr. Akbar Anjum, Prof. Dr. Muazzam Jamil, Dr. Umair Arshad and others. Chairman NAEAC appreciated the pace and quality with which the MNSUAM has progressed in terms of infrastructure and faculty development.

SEMINAR ON ELEMENTAL AND GENETIC ANALYSIS OF COTTON CROP

The Graduate Resource Center of MNSUAM organized an awareness seminar on Feb. 15, 2018 on Elemental and Genetic Analysis of Cotton Crop. The Chairman, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Prof. Dr. Zulqar Ali was the keynote speaker. The Chairman, NAEAC, Dr. M.E. Tusneem, Dr. Bismillah Khan, Mr. Naseer Alam and other NAEAC team members also attended this seminar. Dr. Zulqar briefed the audience comprising of faculty and postgraduate students about the background and methodology of the present work. He informed the house that elemental analyses for various macro and micro nutrients revealed a strong relationship of insect pest insurgence with nutrient status in plant tissues. Talking on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Asif Ali said that such studies should continue so that long-term data can be manipulated to predict relationship between mineral nutrition and insect pest attack.

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Glimpses of NAEAC Team Visit to MNSUAM

01-15 February, 2018

GOLD MEDAL AWARDED TO PROF. DR. SHAFQAT SAEED, DEAN FA&ES

The Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, Prof. Dr. Shafqat Saeed has been decorated with Quaid-e-Azam Gold Medal for his meritorious services in agriculture teaching and research. He was awarded the gold medal in a ceremony held at Majeed Nizami Auditorium, Lahore by the Chief Guest of the ceremony, Gen. (R) Muhammad Akram, former Vice Chancellor, University of Engineering & Technology. Prof. Dr. Shafqat Saeed has been associated with Entomology for last 26 years. Prior to this award, Prof. Dr. Shafqat Saeed has also received Prof. Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad Gold Medal for his contribution to entomological research. He has completed several projects in collaboration with World Bank, ACIAR, USAID and FAO to resolve several production constraints of contemporary agriculture. He has supervised research work of a good number of Masters and PhD students. He further holds the distinction of representing Pakistan in IPBES – a group comprising 120 countries – as well as honorary member of Echo Science Foundation. Prof. Dr. Asif Ali, Vice Chancellor MNSUAM, appreciated Prof. Dr. Shafqat Saeed for achieving this milestone and said that this is second gold medal for the University, which reects the quality of our faculty and academia.

PEARLS OF MNSUAMSuccess Story of Fatima Bukhari

Student of MNSUAM

Syeda Fatima Bukhari is a brilliant student of B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture (Entomology) who has won the title of SAFE PESTICIDE USE AMBASSADOR during March 2018 by Bayer Crop Science Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd.She was one among the many students who participated in a training program on Safe Use of Crop Protection Products held on September 6, 2017. This training program was repeated in several universities of Pakistan and last segment for it was a competition of preparing a short document of how farmers can be trained in a convenient way for safe use of pesticides. Total 70 students were selected from University of Agriculture Faisalabad and MNSUAM.

Fatima speaks in her words as; the task before me was to develop a video of delivering lecture to farmers about safe use of pesticides, experience repor t and list of farmers that were present in that training. It was a new type of challenge for me as I never had a training session like this before. I must admit that initially I didn't want to do this. I was hesitant mainly because public speaking used to scare me. I was fearful of the making mistakes was feeling myself without condence. That made my gut harder and mind stuck off of ideas as how to face the farmers. But thanks to all those motivational lectures, arranged by Bayer, that boosted my condence and helped me to get rid of my fears and insecurities.I arranged a sought of farmer day at Chak Railway Station (R.S.) Tehsil Shujabad where 25 farmers participated in it. I conveyed them the right practices and measures which should be done before, Page#8

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