FAISALABAD, Dec 31: A 27-member delegation of Sultan Qaboos University’s college of agriculture and marine sciences, Oman, on Saturday arrived at University of Agriculture to visit various departments, laboratories and review the ongoing research.

The delegation, led by Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) Director-General Dr Iqrar Ahmed Khan, called on vice-chancellor Dr Bashir Ahmed and discussed matters relating to bilateral ties between Oman and Pakistan in agriculture and marine sciences.

The vice-chancellor told the team that the university was striving for excellence and had launched new disciplines to meet challenges in the field of human resources.

Prof Dr Bashir Ahmed said Pakistan was suffering from water shortage and urged young scientists to develop new technology for saving water. He also lauded the bed planting technology developed by WMRC director Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmed through which more than 50 per cent water saving had been occurred in Toba Tek Singh district. He suggested that this technology should be introduced throughout the country.

Earlier, Dr Iqrar Ahmed Khan briefed the vice-chancellor about various faculties and departments of Sultan Qaboos University and spoke of research achievements of Omani scientists in agriculture, livestock and marine sciences.

The delegation also visited the main library of the agriculture university and all laboratories and took keen interest in research activities at the Institute of Horticultural Sciences.

The delegation will stay in Pakistan till Jan 10 and visit NIAB, National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetical Engineering (NIBGE), and Ayub Agriculture Research Institute (AARI).