July 30, 2013
Vice-chancellors of all agricultural universities demanded of all the agricultural research and development funds from Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) should be diverted to Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARAC) being top research body. 
An official source said that vice-chancellors and heads of agricultural universities and colleges demanded this in a meeting presided over by PARAC Chairman Dr Iftikhar. The meeting also established a forum for Agricultural Research and Co-ordination Mechanism. The meeting urged that all agricultural research and development funds from HEC and PSF should be diverted to PARC and further distributed among provincial universities and colleges, he said.
He said that following the 18th amendment HEC and PSF directly send research and development to the provinces which is badly affecting research activities, especially agricultural research. " Direct sending of fund to provincial universities without consulting PARC, is causing duplication in the field of research, as mostly provincial universities and PARC conduct research on similar matters", he said.
The official said that Dr Iftikhar Ahmad has explained the consequences of 18th amendment, how it affected PARC and other agricultural research and development institutions. PARC chairman also proposed Terms of Reference ToRs of the forum to seek comments and suggestions from all the participants. The ToRs include joint research planning through forum meetings, designing collaborative mega research projects, joint supervision of student research, data base development and information sharing, exchange and training of technical personal and material for research and academic development and sharing research reports/article/ periodicals. Prioritise research agenda in consonance with national development needs/ priorities and future challenges, review the action plans for implementation of research agenda, technically scrutinise research projects and suggest improvement in project design/methodologies, review/evaluate specific projects and sector reports, deliberation and joint work on policy framework on agriculture and livestock, he said.
Chairman PARAC informed the meeting that PARC five-year plan is in the final stage which will be shared through this forum for guidance. The meeting also decided that only high tech agricultural research and development should be done at PARC level and PARC should strengthen its relations with International Agri. Research Centers and Institutions to seek mega projects as well as ensure better capacity building for the agricultural research and development, he said.
An official source said that vice-chancellors and heads of agricultural universities and colleges demanded this in a meeting presided over by PARAC Chairman Dr Iftikhar. The meeting also established a forum for Agricultural Research and Co-ordination Mechanism. The meeting urged that all agricultural research and development funds from HEC and PSF should be diverted to PARC and further distributed among provincial universities and colleges, he said.
He said that following the 18th amendment HEC and PSF directly send research and development to the provinces which is badly affecting research activities, especially agricultural research. " Direct sending of fund to provincial universities without consulting PARC, is causing duplication in the field of research, as mostly provincial universities and PARC conduct research on similar matters", he said.
The official said that Dr Iftikhar Ahmad has explained the consequences of 18th amendment, how it affected PARC and other agricultural research and development institutions. PARC chairman also proposed Terms of Reference ToRs of the forum to seek comments and suggestions from all the participants. The ToRs include joint research planning through forum meetings, designing collaborative mega research projects, joint supervision of student research, data base development and information sharing, exchange and training of technical personal and material for research and academic development and sharing research reports/article/ periodicals. Prioritise research agenda in consonance with national development needs/ priorities and future challenges, review the action plans for implementation of research agenda, technically scrutinise research projects and suggest improvement in project design/methodologies, review/evaluate specific projects and sector reports, deliberation and joint work on policy framework on agriculture and livestock, he said.
Chairman PARAC informed the meeting that PARC five-year plan is in the final stage which will be shared through this forum for guidance. The meeting also decided that only high tech agricultural research and development should be done at PARC level and PARC should strengthen its relations with International Agri. Research Centers and Institutions to seek mega projects as well as ensure better capacity building for the agricultural research and development, he said.
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