LAHORE: Second national symposium on “Botanical Entrepreneurship and Business Development” was held at the University of Education (UoE), Township, on Monday.

A number of students and renowned botanists from all over the Pakistan attended the symposium.

Addressing the symposium, University of Education Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Rauf-i-Azam said the knowledge of botany had got immense importance in recent years with increase in research on beneficial use of trees, plants and flowers.

“If they come up with sustainable business model they can earn handsome money,” he said and emphasized the need to be environment-sensitive citizens so that we could make Pakistan green and clean.

Prof Azam said the trees and flowers did not contribute to the aesthetic beauty of the environment only as they could also be used in preparation of a lot of medicines to cure various diseases.

Renowned botanist Prof Dr Shahzad Maqsood Basra said Pakistan could save a huge amount of foreign exchange while giving the status of industry to botanical sector.

“One cannot become a teacher after getting the knowledge of botany but also a successful businessman, who can earn lot of money by providing healthy food to people,” he said.

Division of Science and Technology Director Dr Alam Saeed said they were confident that the students would get benefit from the symposium.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2019