International Day for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was celebrated at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR), here on Wednesday. In this connection a seminar was also held with the objectives to create awareness about GIS in general public with providing platform for students & organizations to network for their carriers and to present their specialties and expertise.

The event was organized by PMAS-AAUR Department of Geo-Informatics and University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad was chief guest on the occasion. More than 15 organizations/institutes displayed their stalls carrying GIS information and its practical benefits.

While addressing the participants of seminar, PMAS-AAUR, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad highlighted the importance of GIS and said that “The GIS is a location based information system useful for almost all fields of life. It enhances the capability of informed decision making in day to day life,” he added. He further stated that GIS would not only help the country but can play pivotal role in natural resource management and its efficient utilization to get the country on the track of prosperity and development.

He was of the view that Pakistan can effectively manage its resources, reduce duplication of facilities, good governance with the use of GIS and Pakistan which already suffers from a lack of resources and good allocation systems can immensely benefit from this. He hoped that this seminar will also identify the scope of effective utilization of GIS and other modern technologies, including Remote Sensing, in national, regional and local level development fields.

Delegates from various Government and private organizations from all over the country including Dr. Jehangir Khan Sial, Dr. Yaseen Bhatti, Dr. Moubshir Riaz Khan of PMAS-AAUR, Dr. Syyed Ammer Mahmood Chairman Space Science Punjab University, Mr. Ijaz Bhutta Director SUPARCO Islamabad, Mr. Fakher Alam UN-FAO, and Dr. Waqas Qazi IST Islamabad  attended the seminar and addressed the participants. They informed the gathering about the application of GIS remote sensing and global positioning system in their relevant fields so that they know how to incorporate GIS and remote sensing techniques in decision making and management of natural resources. They also discussed the importance of GIS and Remote Sensing in the field of agriculture,  forest, wildlife and fisheries, etc.