TOBA TEK SINGH: It is a matter of concern that the country wastes 20 to 40 per cent of agricultural produce that can be converted into value addition by adopting modern technologies to meet the demands and earn foreign exchange.
This was stated by Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairperson Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan during a visit to the University of Agriculture Faisalabad on Monday. He visited the centres, including Pak-Korea Nutrition Centre, Centre for Advanced Studies, National Incubation Centre and Solar Park, and called on UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali.
Dr Khan also met UAF students who had visited Chinese universities for higher studies. He highlighted the urgent need to minimise crop losses in the agriculture sector, pointing out that a significant quantity of vegetables and fruits like potato, tomatoes, peas, mango, onion, strawberry, banana, jujube, and citrus fruits were being wasted every year due to their perishable nature. He said that by adopting modern preservation techniques, particularly dehydration technology, could play a vital role in enhancing value addition, extending shelf life and creating new market opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs.
During the visit to Pak-Korea Nutrition Center(PKNC), the HEC chairman said that 40pc of the population of Pakistan was facing malnutrition. He lauded the PKNC for training around 10,000 lady health workers and an equal number of schoolteachers.He urged the centre to focus on developing 10 innovative and nutritious food products aimed at addressing malnutrition, especially among women and children.
Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan underscored the importance of strengthening the domestic supply chain of agricultural goods to reduce their wastage. He said Pakistan currently has 48 institutions offering degrees in agricultural education and 16 institutions in veterinary sciences and they were revamping the agricultural education system to align it with modern challenges. He urged the students to come up with innovative ideas and business plans to address the current challenges including water issues and food security.
Dr Zulfiqar urged the scientists to develop product enriched with nutrition to effectively tackle the challenge of malnutrition in the country. He emphasised that academia must play a proactive role in developing affordable, nutritious, and locally adaptable food products to ensure food security and improved public health.
ENCOUNTERS: A suspect was killed in an encounter with Chuttiana police in Toba.
Police spokesperson Attaullah said four outlaws riding motorcycles robbed the passengers near Akalwala Link Road. On information, police responded by erecting a picket. They signalled four suspects to stop but they opened fire on the policemen, damaging the police van. The suspects entered a graveyard near Jaja Canal Bridge where firing was again exchanged between them and police. When firing stopped, police found one of the criminals injured while three others had managed to flee. They claimed that he was injured by the firing of his own accomplices.
The injured suspect was shifted to Chuttiana Rural Health Centre where he succumbed to his wounds. He was identified as Abdul Ghaffar of Chak 361-GB. The deceased was wanted by police in dozens of robberies.
In Nankana Sahib, a suspect was arrested after being injured during an encounter with Saddar police who claimed thathe was injured by his own accomplices.
Police claimed that the suspect, Ali Rajab, was the main accused in the incident that took place in Chak Bhadda four days ago. Police added that he had shot at and injured a van driver, Waseem, after he did not stop his vehicle for him and his accomplices.
SMUGGLING: The National Highways and Motorway Police foiled an attempt to smuggle Areca and betel nuts near Khanqah Dogran on the motorway.
According to a police spokesperson, a suspicious vehicle ignored the stop signal while violating the lane and tried to flee at high speed. The police intercepted it near the interchange after a chase and 660kg of non-customs-paid betel and Areca nuts, worth more than Rs2m, were recovered from it.
Police arrested the driver, Akhtar Zaman, while the recovered net and the vehicle have been handed over to Pakistan Customs for further legal action.
Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2026