USAID-funded research centre set up

LAHORE
US Consul General, Lahore, Zachary Harkenrider and Vice-chancellor, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Dr Talat Naseer Pasha inaugurated the Center for Applied Policy Research in Livestock (CAPRIL) at UVAS on Monday.
The centre was established with support from the USAID-funded Punjab Enabling Environment Project (PEEP) to promote policy and institutional reforms through evidence based research for the development of livestock and dairy sectors in Punjab.
According to a press release, Consul General Zachary Harkenrider said: “The centre will bring the best ideas from the laboratory and the classroom into the public policy arena, and thereby encourage economic growth, create jobs, spur investment, and increase exports—delivering clear benefits for farmers and agricultural businesses across Pakistan.”
Through this partnership, USAID’s Punjab Enabling Environment Project has provided in-kind support and technical assistance to set up the center at UVAS. CAPRIL aims to support policy makers, potential investors, and interest groups by providing input based on research to formulate effective policies, laws, regulations and standards for livestock and dairy sectors in Punjab. Such conducive polices prove to be instrumental in accelerating the reforms process, which involves introducing new and updating existing policies in light of a rapidly changing economy and transformation of businesses resulting from mega trends.
Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha said, “This collaboration will open doors for new policy research initiatives in the livestock and dairy sectors. The research conducted by the center will be demand-driven, holistic and in line with industry needs to help leverage economic benefits for Punjab. The research findings and inputs on various policy interventions will be helpful to policy makers for policy and institutional reforms that can in turn stimulate investments in the province.”
USAID’s Punjab Enabling Environment Project is a five-year, $14.98 million project, which is strengthening the livestock, dairy and horticulture sectors of Punjab by influencing policy and regulatory reforms through private sector-led advocacy. These reforms are expected to spur investment and create jobs. Through this project, USAID is increasing the institutional capacity of policy influencers in the public and private sector, so that they may provide quality policy inputs to the Punjab government.
Provincial Director USAID Punjab Dr Miles Toder, Director CAPRIL Dr Rana Ayub, and USAID PEEP Chief of Party Muhammad Junaid also attended the inauguration.
LGH test: The Post Graduate Medical Institute and Lahore General Hospital (PGMI/LGH) Principal Prof Khalid Mahmood has constituted a four-member committee to conduct test of Hafiz-e-Quran candidates who have applied for admission at Nursing School, Lahore General Hospital for three years nursing training course.
The test is held on Tuesday (today) at nursing school, LGH. After the test, the successful candidates would get additional merit marks in accordance with the government policy.
According to a press release issued here on Monday, Prof Khalid Mahmood said in this regard that as many as 1,250 girls had applied against 58 seats of the nursing course. He said there were 14 candidates who submitted certificates of being Hafiz-e-Quran and after qualifying test, they would be eligible for additional merit marks. He said FSc passed girls would be preferred for admission in the nursing course.