Chinese research team visits UVAS

LAHORE: A four-member delegation from the Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute (PRFRI), Guangzhou, China, visited the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore and discussed progress on their collaboration in fisheries sector in a meeting with Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha and senior professors.
The VC briefed the delegation on the academic, research and training programmes of the UVAS. He said the university is focusing on problem-oriented applied research.
Presently the UVAS faculty members are working on 64 research projects worth Rs 734 million won from national and international funding agencies. He said the university is offering postgraduate MPhil and PhD programmes in 31 disciplines besides its graduate and under-graduate degree courses. He said the UVAS is promoting linkages with international institutions for quality education and research. He said the university wants to initiate more joint programmes with the Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute to benefit from the Chinese expertise.
He said the UVAS has taken many academic and research initiatives for the development of fisheries sector. He said it is moving towards intensive culture system of fish and encouraging private sector for investment on this sector.
The delegation also discussed with the UVAS professors the possibilities of intensive fish culture, site requirements, feasibility studies, investigation of local turtle resources and possible locations for turtle culture and future planning.
A UVAS delegation of professors will visit China in near future to have more discussions on joint programmes. Two UVAS faculty members are also scheduled to go to China early next year for Postdoct training under this project. Similarly, both the sides agreed to exchange students.
The UVAS had signed an MoU with the Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute last year for academic exchanges, research cooperation, and joint work on sustainable utilisation and management of fisheries resources, fisheries eco-environment protection and aquatic product quality and safety, semi-intensive and intensive fish farming, aquatic germplasm resource and genetic breeding, high yield techniques of fish farming and nutrition research on floating and sinking feeds for fish and shrimp, turtle farming, fish seed hatching, and fish farm management, etc.
The UVAS and Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute are also working on fish disease diagnosis and their control. They are also sharing information and knowledge on fresh water fisheries.