IT’S TIME TO
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Environmental and Climate Challenges in Pakistan
Over the past two decades, Pakistan has found itself amongst the top 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change, as highlighted by the Climate Change Risk Index. Disastrous weather events have resulted in devastating financial losses, with approximately $4 billion USD in damages. Furthermore, Pakistan grapples with a host of environmental issues, ranging from salinity to deforestation, significantly impacting reservoir capacities and the country's overall ecosystem.
Pollution's Pervasive Threat
Water and plastic pollution stands as one of the most concerning environmental hazards in Pakistan. Poor water quality for drinking and agricultural purposes can be attributed to widespread contamination from various pollutants, including coliform, toxic metals, and pesticides. Mismanagement of water resources coupled with unmonitored pollution makes the country rank 80th among 122 nations regarding drinking water quality
Land and Soil: An Eroding Foundation
Land degradation, primarily due to water erosion, has affected nearly 20% of Pakistan's total land. Causes for this degradation encompass water erosion, wind erosion, salinity, and waterlogging, all exacerbated by factors like excessive deforestation and poor land management.
The Rising Heat: Global Warming and Pakistan
Although Pakistan doesn't significantly contribute to global warming, the repercussions from global temperature rises have severely impacted the country. Vulnerable populations face threats from heavy rains, floods, and increasing carbon emissions, emphasizing the urgency of adapting climate actions.
Overpopulation: A Growing Concern
Pakistan's surging population, anticipated to reach 240 million by 2023, has intensified environmental and resource challenges. This growth strains resources, amplifies emissions, and increases the population's vulnerability to climate-related threats.
A Tidal Wave of Waste
Pakistan faces an alarming growth in waste generation, especially concerning plastics. The country currently mismanages 70% of its plastic waste, with only a fraction making its way to appropriate disposal sites.
Deforestation: The Vanishing Green
Pakistan's forest cover is diminishing at an alarming rate, with the country losing over 27,000 hectares of forest annually. Deforestation drivers in Pakistan range from firewood dependence to urbanization, resulting in severe climate change repercussions for the nation.
Melting Away: Pakistan's Glacial Challenge
Rising global temperatures, primarily due to industrialization, have precipitated the melting of glaciers in the northern regions of Pakistan. This melting poses flood threats to millions and represents one of the most pressing environmental challenges for the country.
The Spread of Urban Sprawl
Urban sprawl, fueled by rural-to-urban migration and population growth, continues to redefine Pakistan's landscape. Prime agricultural lands are being consumed for housing schemes, with major cities like Karachi and Lahore witnessing extensive developments.
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PORTFOLIO
DR HAFEEZ A SADAQAT
PROFESSOR PLANT BREEDING AND GENETICSUNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, FAISALABAD
I won silver medal in MSc(Hons) degree program of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad; got PhD from the University of Liverpool, UK; Post Doctorate from the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada and academic and administrative trainings from the University of California, Davis, USA and Washington State University USA. During my stay in USA, I visited number of world-famous laboratories, met the leading scientists and educationists engaged in developing cutting edge technologies in the domain of education and agriculture for the socio-economic up left of humanity. These trainings, are besides many received within the country like on Intellectual Property Rights, National Agricultural Education Accreditation Council etc.
I have more than 30 years of university teaching and research experience including almost 12 years as professor and was a member/secretary National Curricula Revision Committee (NCRC/HEC) and Secretary BoS and Faculty Board and member Academic Council of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. I had been on number of committees meant for the uplift of academic and research in the university. During this period, I had chance to update curricula at under- as well as post-grade levels for several times and actively participated in initiating new degree program. I have the credit of producing more than 13 PhD and 100 MSc(Hons)/MPhil scholars and more than 100 scientific publications and many more scientific reports. Furthermore, I led the department of Plant Breeding and Genetics as chairman for a tenure of three years.
I, in the capacity of Director, Financial Assistance and University Advancement led teams working on Students’ Scholarships, Fee Managements, Laptop Distributions (CM as well as PM), Alumni Matters, Career Development, and University Advancements for a period of more than three years. I also got proper trainings on all these aspects during my visit to University of California Davis USA and Washington State University USA. As a result of strides after these trainings, the per year budget for only scholarships in the university reached around Rs. 700 million Pak Rupees. I was a member of team with treasurer for approval of University Budget from Higher Education Commission Pakistan (HEC). I also worked as Director Students Affairs in the University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan.
I have experience of working in Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB), as Executive Member for Planning and Coordination and for Monitoring and Evaluation. PARB is an apex body for funding and financing agricultural research projects on Competitive Grant System basis. During my service period I have worked in many organizations liken, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) Faisalabad, and Water management on Farm as well as Command Water Management and visited USA, UK, Canada and Oman. These have enriched my experience in all these domains which are necessary for a leader in any education and research organization.
I have been member of Selection Board, member Scrutiny Committee, member Board of Studies and External Evaluator for MSc(Hons)/MPhil/PhD theses in many universities across Pakistan. I have been on the list of HEC approved supervisors for Indigenous PhD Scholarships and supervised five such scholars. I served as Subject Expert in Punjab Public Service Commission exams/interviews and on the list of subject experts of many fund donor agencies, like Punjab Agricultural Research Board, Agricultural Linkage Program Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, and Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies (CAS-UAF) and University Endowment Fund Secretariate (EFU-UAF) and have an excellent experience of scrutinize the research proposals from institutions and organizations engaged in research across Pakistan.
Having said about my education and experience, I would like to bring this on record that I strongly believe that developing nations like Pakistan can prosper only with education and training and character building and universities need to play their crucial role. I firmly believe that with a demand driven output-based curricula, the scholars instead of looking for government jobs will prefer for entrepreneurship and will become the source of employment. I have rich valuable experience in education, research, students’ matters, fund management, developing linkages and relationships with government, concerned institutions, and industry, initiating market-oriented degree programs, updating curricula to meet the market demands.
Pakistan is suffering from acute deficit of edible oil due to gap in domestic production and consumption and owing to necessary food constituent it is imported worth huge hard earned foreign exchange. The imported edible oil is generally serine type palm oil which is of low quality and cannot be used in kitchen. Its quality matches with the soap and lubricant industry and is hazardous for human health. The only solution to this menace is the development of high yielding and better-quality oilseed plant varieties. I worked as team leader of research team for breeding oilseeds and fodder crops in the university. The scientific endeavors resulted in the development of approved rapeseed variety UAF-11. It was bred with the view to increase both seed and oil yield, and with the morphological structure suitable for mechanized agriculture to cut down the edible oil import bills. This variety is unique in the country having characters like early maturity, almost 50% seed oil contents and shattering resistance. Farmers are cultivating it and the area under cultivation is increasing day by day, I am sure it will make a significant cut in the import bills on edible oil in the days to come.
SILENT FEATURES OF UAF11
UAF-11proved as:
The earliest in maturity taking 130-140 days
The shortest 90-104 cm
The highest seed oil contents 49%
Resistant to Shattering
Our Reserachers
Professor Dr. Hafeez Ahmad Sadaqat
The University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan
Verified email at uaf.edu.pk
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=aCtViiQAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Professor Dr. Saleem Maseeh Bhatti
Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam
Verified email at sau.edu.pk
Metals Pollution and Human HealthOrganic Waste
Management Micronutrients Biofortification and Soil Salinity
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=2afsmK8AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Our Core Values and Focus Areas
We prioritize Education, Environment, Women Empowerment, Economic Development, and Agriculture to create lasting impact and positive change for disadvantaged individuals and communities.