By The World Ambassador
TWA
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Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan stated that December 16 is one of the most painful days in Pakistan’s history. He expressed these sentiments while addressing at the inaugural ceremony of three days International Training Workshop on DSSAT, Assessing Climate Change Impact, Adaptation & Mitigation Using Crop Simulation Models at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR), here on Monday.
The Governor emphasized the sacrifices made by the armed forces in combating terrorism and highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by corruption within the country. He also pointed out that despite Pakistan’s limited contribution to global climate change; it remains one of the most affected nations. This conference served as a platform to discuss pressing issues that Pakistan faces today, urging collective efforts to address these challenges.
He paid tribute to the sacrifices made by the armed forces in the name of peace, ensuring that the nation can sleep peacefully at night due to their efforts. He declared that the entire nation stands with the armed forces and acknowledges their sacrifices.
Moreover, Governor Saleem Haider Khan highlighted the active corruption mafias in the country. The Governor also discussed the severe impact of climate change on Pakistan, where the country plays a minimal role in contributing to environmental issues but bears the brunt of their effects. He noted that in rain-fed areas like Rawalpindi, consistent delays in rainfall have adversely affected wheat production for three consecutive years. He pointed out that the harvesting season often coincides with heavy rains, resulting in further losses, says press note.
Sardar Saleem Haider mentioned that until 1992, India and Pakistan were comparable in agriculture, but now Pakistan has fallen significantly behind. He attributed India’s agricultural success to subsidies on diesel and fertilizers for farmers.
Vice Chancellor Dr. Muhammad Naeem stated that climate change is the reaction of nature to our actions. We also need to focus and address our environmental actions that disturb nature badly. The Vice Chancellor said that innovation in technology is essential to tackle climate change, with universities playing a crucial role in guiding efforts to combat its effects. He also informed the participants that recently an important project on Modern Agriculture and Water Efficient Technologies was inaugurated at the arid university with the collaboration of Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI) and Chinese Company.
Chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed emphasized that Pakistan has lagged behind neighboring countries in traditional agricultural practices and called for collaboration among engineers, agricultural experts, and other specialists to develop a comprehensive action plan to address the challenges posed by climate change.
