LAHORE: The Punjab University has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide newly developed ‘disease-resistant’ cotton seed to farmers across the country through seven multinational companies.

The ceremony was held at committee room of Vice Chancellor’s office on Tuesday.

VC Prof Dr Zafar Moeen Nasir, Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology Prof Dr Tayyab Husnain and representatives of multinational companies were present on the occasion.

Addressing the ceremony, the VC claimed that PU scientists had developed the BT cotton seed and it would contribute $4 billion to the economy and would start giving results in two years.

He said the [cotton] seed would be used over 8 million acre land in the country and it would help farmers vsave Rs144bn collectively by saving Rs20,000 per acre.

Giving technical details, he said the BT cotton seed was disease and insect resistant and drought tolerant while adding the seed would also be reusable.He said the seed had been developed using modern molecular genetic engineering and DNA cloning techniques.

The VC said seven international companies had shown interest in purchasing new varieties of the seed to provide benefits of academic research to people of the country.

He said PU scientists including Dr Tayyab Husnain, Dr Idrees Nasir, Dr Ahmed Ali Shahid, Dr Kausar Malik, Dr Bushra Rashid and Dr Abdul Qayyum had made significant contributions in development of the new seed varieties of BT cotton.

He said the agreement would generate additional revenue for the university to be allocated for further research projects.

RESULTS: The PU has declared the results of MA Archaeology Part-II annual examination 2017, MA Fine Arts Part-II annual exam 2017, MA International Relations Part-II annual exam 2017, MA Philosophy Part-II annual examination 2017, MSc Botany Part-II annual exam 2017, MSc MCWM Part-II annual exam 2017 and MSc Tourism and Hospitality Management Part-II annual exam 2017. The result is also available at PU website www.pu.edu.pk.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2017