ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has approved a project amounting to Rs39.990 million for the upgradation of the Department of Soil Sciences to Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, says a press release.

This was stated by Prof Dr Attaur Rahman, Chairman Higher Education Commission, Islamabad. The project was approved in a Department Working Party (DDWP) meeting held at HEC recently.

The objectives of the project are: Upgradation and capacity building of the department to bring it to international standard of education and research in the disciplines of soil and environmental sciences, development of trained human resource base in the disciplines of soil and environmental sciences, basic and applied research in soil and environmental sciences, advisory services to farmers, NGOs and the relevant agro-based industry.

It will also monitor short-term training of farmers and in- service agricultural pertaining to the technological development and sustainable resource management.

Upgradation of the Department of Soil Science to a full- fledged Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences will further improve the research/training facilities and quantity as well as quality of trained manpower.