Latest news with #SindhAgricultureUniversity
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Over 6,000 students benefit from PM's Laptop Scheme at SAU: VC
HYDERABAD: As part of the Prime Minister's Youth Laptop Scheme, Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam distributed laptops among 11 high-performing students during a ceremony held on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal said that over 6,000 students have benefitted from the scheme at the university so far. He emphasized that merit-based opportunities for laptops and scholarships will continue to be extended to deserving students in the future. 'In today's technology-driven world, progress without computers and information technology is unimaginable. IT is playing a crucial role not only in economic development but also in national defense,' said Dr. Siyal. He encouraged students to harness the power of technology to create career opportunities from home and called upon the government to extend the laptop scheme to the college level while promoting IT education at all tiers. Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr. Aijaz Ali Khooharo noted that laptops previously delayed due to administrative hurdles have now been distributed strictly on academic merit. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Huawei Global ICT Competition: Pakistani students secure 3rd place
HYDERABAD: In a remarkable achievement for the country, a joint team of students from Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, and Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), Jamshoro, clinched third place at the Huawei Global ICT Competition 2025, held in Shenzhen, China. The annual event drew participation from more than 210,000 students and instructors representing over 2,000 universities and institutions across 100+ countries. After qualifying through rigorous national and regional stages, only 179 teams from 48 countries advanced to the global finals. The Pakistani team, comprising Muhammad Ishaque from SAU's Information Technology Centre and Tahseen Ahmed from MUET, excelled in the Network Track Category. The team was mentored by Suhrab Thaheem and had earlier secured second place in the Middle East regional finals. The final awards ceremony, held in Shenzhen, marked a moment of pride for Pakistan as Huawei officially announced the country's third-place win. The achievement highlights Pakistan's growing footprint in global ICT innovation and education. Vice Chancellor of SAU, Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal, congratulated the students and faculty, terming the achievement a 'national honour.' He extended special appreciation to team mentor Suhrab Thaheem and Dr. Mir Sajjad Talpur, Director of the Information Technology Centre at SAU, for their leadership and support. 'This prestigious global recognition is a testament to the creativity, innovation, and technical excellence of our youth,' Dr. Siyal stated. 'As digital transformation continues to reshape the world, the demand for skilled professionals in fields such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cybersecurity is rising rapidly and our students are proving they are ready to meet that challenge.' Dr. Siyal further emphasized the importance of initiatives like the Huawei ICT Competition in bridging the global skills gap by offering students practical training, promoting industry-academia collaboration, and fostering curriculum innovation. He noted that this accomplishment not only underscores the emerging ICT talent in Pakistan but also exemplifies the strength of inter-university cooperation in achieving global recognition. The 9th edition of the Huawei ICT Competition also introduced new segments including the 'Women in Tech' and 'Green Development Awards,' highlighting the importance of diversity, sustainability, and inclusivity in technology-driven innovation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
SAU, PARC organise seminar on production of palm oil on coastal areas
HYDERABAD: National and provincial agricultural experts and researchers expressed deep concern over Pakistan's rising edible oil import bill, exceeding $5 billion annually, and the unusually high per capita consumption of over 24 kilograms of oil. They emphasized that the lack of marketing, oil extraction, and processing units for palm oil remains a major obstacle in attracting local farmers to cultivate this important crop. They shared these views while addressing a seminar titled 'From Nursery to Field – Best Practices for Oil Palm Seedling Transplanting and Management,' jointly organized by Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam, and the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) under the Agriculture Linkages Program (ALP), held at the Senate Hall on Tuesday. Dr. Inayatullah Rajper, Dean of the Faculty of Crop Production at SAU, emphasized that palm oil is an important crop for Pakistan. He stated that alongside ongoing research, there is a crucial need to generate market demand to ensure farmers recognize its significance and are encouraged to cultivate it. Dr. Rajper highlighted that the challenges facing palm oil cultivation must be addressed promptly. He pointed out that, similar to castor oil—which is widely used in the global aviation industry but often overlooked domestically—palm oil also requires greater attention and acceptance among consumers. Dr. Mazharuddin Keerio also urged policymakers, government, and industrialists to invest in and establish oil palm processing units. He emphasized the need to launch promotional campaigns for this purpose, conduct research on new hybrid varieties, and called on research institutions to advance work on tissue culture varieties. Dr. Zakir Hussain Dahri, Director General of PARC's Southern Zone Agricultural Research Centre (SARC), stated that so far, the habit of using soybean and palm oil for food has not been developed; these oils are primarily used in detergents and soaps for industrial purposes. He noted that an average person consumes 24 kilograms of oil, 26 kilograms of sugar, and 3 kilograms of salt annually, while in other countries, consumption is less than half of these amounts. He further added that Pakistan imports edible oil worth 5 billion dollars annually. Dr. Allah Wadhayo Gandahi, Principal Investigator of the project, stated that farmers show little interest in cultivating palm oil due to the absence of dedicated oil processing mills and the lack of market demand. He emphasized that if coordinated efforts are made in research, policy, and infrastructure, palm oil cultivation in the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan could become a key pillar of Pakistan's agricultural development. He recommended promoting public-private partnerships, ensuring policy and institutional support, and integrating palm oil into national oilseed development programs. Dr. Nizamuddin Depar, Head of Soil Sciences at the Nuclear Institute of Agriculture, declared that Sindh's agro-climatic conditions are conducive to oil palm cultivation. He advocated for collaborations with Khairpur's Date Palm Institute to boost research in tissue culture. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Transparent budgeting linked to citizen participation: SAU VC
HYDERABAD: Vice Chancellor of Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam, Dr Altaf Ali Siyal, has emphasized that transparency in budget-making can only be achieved by incorporating public feedback and fostering effective collaboration between citizens and government institutions. He expressed these views while addressing an awareness seminar on the 'Citizen Budget for the Fiscal Year 2025–26,' organized on Monday by the Finance Department, Government of Sindh, in collaboration with Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam. Dr Siyal lauded the Sindh government for taking what he described as a commendable and people-centric step by actively involving citizens in the budget formulation process. He noted that research institutions must play a practical role in shaping public policy and budget development through surveys and evidence-based recommendations. 'This approach ensures that the budget is not only transparent but also reflective of the real needs of the people,' he added. Highlighting the value of public participation, Dr Siyal said that the Citizen Budget concept promotes participatory governance and helps build mutual trust between the government and the people. Additional Secretary of the Finance Department and Director of the Economic Reform Unit (ERU), Muhammad Afzal Channa, delivered a detailed briefing on the objectives and significance of the Citizen Budget. He explained that the initiative aims to present the annual budget in a simplified, easy-to-understand format, especially for citizens without a technical or financial background. 'This initiative is a practical reflection of the Government of Sindh's commitment to Open Government and Public Financial Management Reforms,' said Channa. He further noted that feedback for the Citizen Budget is collected from a diverse cross-section of society, including students, members of civil society, and representatives from both public and private institutions. Structured questionnaires and surveys are used to gather public input, which is then considered during the budget formulation process. Professor Dr Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar also addressed the seminar. The event was attended by former Pro-Vice Chancellor of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro, agricultural extension experts, representatives of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, and a large number of students. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
12-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Public feedback key to transparent budgets
Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam Vice Chancellor Dr Altaf Ali Siyal has emphasised that transparency in budget-making can only be achieved by incorporating public feedback and fostering effective collaboration between the citizens and government institutions. He expressed these views while addressing an awareness seminar on the "Citizen Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26," organised by the Finance Department, Government of Sindh, in collaboration with the SAU on Monday. Siyal lauded the Sindh government for taking what he described as a commendable and people-centric step by actively involving citizens in the budget formulation process. He noted that research institutions must play a practical role in shaping public policy and budget development through surveys and evidence-based recommendations. "This approach ensures that the budget is not only transparent but is also reflective of the real needs of the people," he added. Highlighting the value of public participation, the SAU VC said that the "citizen budget" concept promotes participatory governance and helps build mutual trust between the government and the people. Additional Secretary of the Finance Department and Director of the Economic Reform Unit Muhammad Afzal Channa delivered a detailed briefing on the objectives and significance of the citizen budget. He explained that the initiative aims to present the annual budget in a simplified, easy-to-understand format, especially for the citizens without having a technical or financial background. "This initiative is a practical reflection of the government of Sindh's commitment to the open government and public financial management reforms," said Channa. He noted that feedback for the citizen budget is collected from a diverse cross-section of society, including students, members of civil society and representatives from both public and private institutions. Structured questionnaires and surveys are used to gather public input, which is then considered during the budget formulation process. Professor Dr Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar also addressed the seminar. The event was attended by former pro-vice chancellor of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro Dr Syed Farman Ali Shah, SAU faculty members, researchers and a large number of students.
