By By Our Correspondent
PUNJAB Agriculture Minister Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh on Wednesday inaugurated Natural Products Laboratory at the Institute of Mycology and Plant Pathology at the varsity.
PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Jamil Anwar and Director Prof Dr Rukhsana Bajwa were also present on the occasion.
A press release here on Wednesday said the minister visited the laboratory where he was briefed about preparing of different products of Aloe Vera. Dr Rukhsana said that the quality products prepared in the laboratory were provided only for Rs 300 each compared to low quality but expensive products available in the market. She said that the same product was worth Rs 3200 in USA.
The minister and vice-chancellor visited Micro Mycology Laboratory where research was carried out on the genes of Fungus Enzymes. They also visited Molecular Pathology Laboratory of the Institute where research was conducted on bacteria and fungus which causes different diseases to plants.
The minister said that Punjab University was the oldest and greatest higher seat of learning and he was pleased that practical research was conducted here. He said that Pakistan was an agricultural country but unfortunately we had problems of food and we have to import one million ton wheat last year. However, this year due to record wheat production of 3.7 million tons, we will meet our requirements. He said that all varsities should conduct research on the diseases which harm our agriculture.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran said that only knowledgeable nations dominated the world. Whoever spends on research, get its fruit in the shape of honour, wealth and power. He said that important research was being conducted in the varsities due to the policies of Higher Education Commission. He congratulated Prof Dr Rukhsana Bajwa on conducting practical research in the institute.