‘PARC's agri linkages programme acknowledged at all levels ’
By Tariq Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD—One of the successful projects launched by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) was Agricultural Linkages Program (ALP) that has been acknowledged at national and international levels.
This was stated by Chairman PARC Dr. Badaruddin Soomro while addressing the 7th meeting of Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of ALP held here at PARC headquarters on Wednesday.
He said even the Australian government has evinced interest to initiate a program similar of the ALP.
Dr. Soomro while opening the meeting being chairman of the committee also appreciated the role of provincial governments in materializing the projects, which have been launched with ALP funding.
Dr. Badaruddin Soomro said that since research was an un-ending process therefore PARC attached much importance to the role of the advisory committee in recommending different projects and identifying agricultural research priorities. After the formal opening of the session, Shahida Jamil, Director Planning apprised the meeting of the activities under ALP, which were reviewed thoroughly by the members and expressed their satisfaction on achievements in different disciplines.
It may be recalled that the government had allowed PARC to establish an Agricultural Research Endowment Fund (AREF) where all the proceeds raised form the sale of US wheat were transferred.
The government of Pakistan and the United States realizing close ties in scientific and technological cooperation between both the countries have entered into an agreement to crate an ALP to reap the mutual benefits of agricultural research through joint research projects and exchange of scientists. The funds so received have been invested in government-approved schemes/institutes. The income generated from ALP investment is utilized for activities/projects in line with Pakistan's long-term research and development goals for the agriculture sector.
The goals focus on food security, poverty alleviation and promoting broad-based equitable and sustainable agriculture sector.