The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and a high-level Chinese delegation have agreed to set up a “Sino-Pak Biohealth Agriculture Sci-tech Demonstration Park” and a joint research laboratory to deepen bilateral cooperation in agriculture and Biohealth. The agreements were reached during a visit by a delegation from China's Silk-Road Biohealth Agricultural Industry Alliance, Northwest A&F University China to UAF, Gwadar Pro reported on Sunday.

According to statement the delegation was led by Prof. Zhang Lixin, Chairman of the Alliance, and Prof. Sun Daoyang, a senior member. During a series of meetings and facility visits at UAF, the two sides explored ways to strengthen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with a focus on food security, research innovation, and technology transfer. “Our goal is to share China's advanced agricultural technologies with our Pakistani partners to address shared challenges and improve farmers' livelihoods,” said Prof. Zhang Lixin.

The delegation met with top UAF officials including Dr. Ghulam Murtaza, Dean Faculty of Agriculture; Prof. Dr. Rao Zahid Abbas, Principal Officer of the Agricultural Technology Research Institute (ATRI); Dr. Imran Arshad, Director of ORIC; and Dr. Saddam Hussain, Dean of the Confucius Institute. The visit included tours of UAF's Central Library, Exhibition Center, experimental fields, the Pak-Korea Nutrition Center, and the Confucius Institute.

“We are proud to work with our Chinese colleagues to establish the demonstration park and joint lab, which will become a hub of innovation and applied research,” said Prof. Dr. Rao Zahid Abbas. “These efforts will directly contribute to Pakistan's food security and agricultural modernization.” The collaboration will also expand academic exchanges and joint research programs through the Silk-Road Biohealth Alliance framework. Dr. Saddam Hussain emphasized that “this initiative marks a new chapter in Sino-Pak academic and research cooperation, especially in the fields of sustainable agriculture and Biohealth.”

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China