ISLAMABAD – The Board of Directors of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) has finalised developmental budgets of Rs 371.5 million for 2009-10 and Rs 1.03 billion for 2010-11. In addition, the board also approved Rs 1.38 billion for non-development expenditure for 2009-10 and Rs 1.78 billion for 2010-11. The Board met with Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Muhammad Gondal who also reviewed the research and development work of PARC.
The minister said that the agricultural sector plays a vital role for the development of national economy and prosperity of the common man in the country. He stressed the need for scientists and PARC to promote agricultural research in the country and said that the development of agriculture was hindered by the progress in research.
He asked for the submission of a report to rejuvenate the organisation by May. PARC Chairman Dr Muhammad Afzal apprised the minister of research and developmental initiatives in the fields of crop sciences, natural science, social sciences and animal sciences. He also shared concerns related to financial constraints faced by the PARC and the need of policy guidelines from the board regarding the focus of research agenda.
The board further emphasised the need to conduct a review study on the programme and management of the organisation for the past five years and formulate Perspective Research Plan for the next five years in a similar pattern adopted by the International Agricultural Research Centers of the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
The board has constituted a three member committee to formulate a proposal indicating the context, scope of study, objectives, detailed terms of reference, deliverables and estimated cost of the review. The committee will submit a report within a month time.
The PARC Board recommended the payment of 50 percent ad hoc relief allowance to the employees of the council. Furthermore, the board also directed PARC to submit the case to the ministry of finance for their consent and approval for the supplementary grant for PARC to make payment of ad hoc relief allowance to the employees and pensioners.
