Forget NARC research, build houses, says CDA as PARC protests

The Board of Governors of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) Wednesday condemned and opposed in strong terms the summary moved by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for conversion of research land of National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC) into a housing society.

A special meeting of the BoG was convened here at the PARC headquarters to discuss the CDA move, which puts the future of country’s economic development and food security on high risk. The board in a unanimous resolution urged the President BoG to approach the prime minister and inform him about the contribution of NARC for agriculture development and the consequences of closing or shifting the centre from the existing place.

The BoG meeting was presided over by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan. Speaking on the occasion, Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan said that the NARC has significantly contributed in the development of the agriculture sector in particular and the overall economy of the country in general.

He said that billions of rupees have been saved due to introduction of various technologies introduced by the centre during the passage of time. He said that the development of rust resistant wheat varieties has generated benefit of around Rs 2,000 billion since 1989 while the centre contribute Rs 273.54 billion towards controlling, managing and eradicating various animal diseases.

Similarly, the National Reference Lab of poultry disease has already saved Rs 90 billion to poultry industry since 2004 and helped make Pakistan bird-flue free country among SAARC countries. The minister said Rs 45 billion have been saved by controlling Rinder Pest disease of cows and buffaloes while by managing and controlling foot and mouth disease and PPR disease Rs 138 billion have been saved so far.