KARACHI: Two research projects — an experimental field for agriculture and food industry specific technological research park — were launched at Karachi University (KU) on Wednesday.

The university plans to run both projects under public-private partnerships.

“We aim to start with horticultural activities and gradually expand the project with the support of the private sector. Research will be undertaken in several fields including that of hydroponics, permaculture, regenerative farming, urban forestry, sustainable fodder farm, apiculture, integrated farming, aquaculture and ostrich farming,” Dr Saboohi Raza, the chairperson of KU’s department of agriculture and agribusiness management told Dawn.

The university had allocated 18.18 acres for the project, she added.

“It will enhance the impact of research programmes in agricultural sciences and provide students with a pathway for manifesting their career objectives.”

About the project prepared by the department of food science and technology, Dr Syed Muhammad Ghufran, co-project director, said the university had allocated one acre for the project whose infrastructure would cost between Rs100m and Rs120m. A PC-1 would be prepared for the project.

“It will be a hub for creating products and services with positive economic impact. This will be achieved by setting up research facilities such as pilot plants, sensory rooms and an animal house,” he said.

The university would provide basic utilities for the infrastructure while industrial cooperation would be sought for research activities, he added.

At the foundation stone-laying ceremony, Prof Shaheena Naz, the chairperson of KU’s food science department and project director of the technology park, noted that the university aimed to create opportunities for hands-on training for its students as well as meeting essential needs of society.

“We are seeking support from the private sector as the project will help cope with the challenges being faced by the food industries,” she said.

KU acting Vice Chancellor Prof Khalid Iraqi spoke about the role research played in national growth, emphasising that Pakistan had to adopt the culture of science and research to progress in the right direction. He observed that the agricultural sector of the country must be developed on a modern scale to get fruitful results and hoped that KU’s experimental field would help support these efforts.

President Halal Awareness and Research Council Pakistan Afaq Shamsi also spoke at the event, which was attended by representatives of several food industries, among others.

The day also saw the inauguration of a digital seminar library, part of the food science department, on campus.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2021