TOBA TEK SINGH: The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) will establish a modern and environment-friendly wastewater treatment plant with the help of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Wasa Managing Director Sohail Qadir Cheema along with a three-member delegation from JICA, and Deputy Managing Director (engineering) Saqib Raza, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali, deans, and directors attended the meeting on Thursday.
They discussed pressing water issues in the agriculture sector, including wastewater treatment and sustainable water management solutions and establishing the treatment plant at UAF. They said that this plant would not only help prevent water wastage but would also play a key role in achieving sustainable development goals for the agriculture sector.
Dr Zulfiqar said the project was a great development for UAF and would not only strengthen its research programmes but also play an important role in promoting efficient water use in the agricultural sector.
He appreciated JICA’s support and said that such projects would further strengthen bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Japan and would be helpful in achieving environmental sustainability goals.
Wasa MD said the proposed plant would be unique and first-of-its-kind. He said the plant would purify wastewater using modern technology and the project would prove to be a milestone for environmental protection, better use of water resources, and agricultural research. He said through this plant, students would also get practical training and research opportunities.
The JICA delegation gave a detailed briefing on the technical details of the project, financial resources, and its potential environmental and agricultural benefits.
Meanwhile, UAF has announced the establishment of the Center of Islamic Finance (CIF). The center aims to increase Islamic financial literacy, produce quality human resource and entrepreneurs.
The center was setup at a cost of Rs2.5 million in collaboration with the Meezan Bank Limited (MBL) at the Institute of Business Management Sciences and was inaugurated by UAF VC Dr Zulfiqar and MBL Shariah Compliance Department Deputy Head Shayan Ahmad Baig.
The center would provide training sessions, degree programes on Islamic finance and produce research work.
Dr Zulfiqar said the center would also assist in promoting innovation and technology commercialisation with the help of Islamic financing. He said the Business Incubation Center and the National Incubation Center at the university were producing entrepreneurs and helping establish startups.
Mr Baig said that Pakistan had set the 2028 deadline for a complete transition to Islamic banking and MBL wanted to make Islamic banking the first choice.
Dr Abdul Ghafoor said that MBL was the pioneering Islamic bank in the country. He said that the university in collaboration with the Islamic Financial Institute would start new degree programmes in the field.
Dr Sahar Munir said that academia-industry linkages would pave the way for knowledge economy.
ACCIDENT: Two members of a family died and three others were critically injured after their over-speeding car rammed into a tractor trolly parked at a roadside near Sarfraz Chowk in Kamalia on Thursday.
The family was returning home to Chichawatni from Wazirabad.
The deceased were identified as Zahida Bibi (50) and Muhammad Afzal (64).
The wounded, Maimoona Bibi (45), Iffat Asjad (48) and her son Ibrahim (6), were shifted to the Kamalia THQ hospital.
Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2025
