Department of Soil Science and Soil and Water Conservation (SS&SWC) upgraded to Institute of Soil Science at Rawalpindi Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University (PMAS-AAUR) while realizing importance of soil and water conservation.
Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor PMAS-AAUR has inaugurated the institute. In the interim, deans of the respective departments, directors, faculty members and students were also present on the occasion.
Dr. Khalid Saifullah Khan, Chairman Professor, Department of SS&SWC informed the participants about history of the department and highlighted the need to upgrade department to level of an institute in his welcome address.
VC advised soil scientists to play a leading role in conservation of land and water resources and also emphasized importance of effective use of farm efforts.
He added that agricultural yield depended on soil’s health. Consequently, to protect this natural resource by adopting newest agricultural practices to increase production to feed growing population of country.
Moreover, VC highlighted the goals of inaugurated institute and said this institute would not only educate undergraduate and graduate students but would solve the problems associated with soil & water conservation, soil fertility and sustainable yield in a more effective way.