Animal sciences conference begins

LAHORE: A two-day international conference “Omics for Animal Sciences: Opportunities and Challenges” started at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) here on Tuesday.

Minister for Labour and Human Resources Raja Ashfaq Sarwar presided over the inaugural session of the conference organised by UVAS in collaboration with Punjab Agriculture Research Board (PARB) and Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad.

UVAS Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha, Dean Faculty of Bio-sciences Prof Dr Habib-ur-Rehman, Director Institute of Biochemistry & Biotechnology Prof Dr Wasim Shehzad and renowned academicians, researchers, biotechnologists from public and private organisations, students related to veterinary & animal sciences, livestock and medical sciences and experts from different countries and Pakistan attended the conference.

Raja Ashfaq Sarwar said the conference on Animal Omics was expected to bring important issues to the table to be discussed so that technologies could be devised and suggestions be made to improve the system.

He said agriculture and livestock were part and parcel of each other and such conferences would be effective for developing strategies and also for the growth of livestock and agriculture sector. He urged the girl students to join their respective professions after getting degrees to serve the society and humanity and contribute to the uplift of national economy.

Speaking about the conference objectives, Dr Wasim Shahzad said the conference would focus on learning about the genomics methodologies for improving livestock capabilities, efficient and cost effective protocol for detection of variant in DNA, RNA or protein that can be associated with economically important traits in livestock and conceptual interaction and thoughtful discussion with the livestock genetics and stakeholders etc.

Prof Pasha spoke about the history of UVAS, its faculties, departments and various disease diagnostics facilities, vaccine production, round the clock clinical and extension services, consultancy and advisory services for the profitability of poor farming community. Raja Ashfaq Sarwar along with Prof Pasha also visited poster exhibition and talked to the students.