Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR), organized a seminar to celebrate World Soil Day, here on Friday, to promote and raise awareness on soils for sustainable agriculture development, nutrition and food security.

The event was organized by the PMAS-AAUR, Department of Soil Science and Soil & Water Conservation (SS & SWC). Prof. DR. Rai Niaz Ahmad, Vice Chancellor PMAS-AAUR was the chief guest on the occasion. University Deans, Directors, faculty members and large number of students attended the seminar.

While addressing the participants, chief guest Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, PMAS-AAUR emphasized mainly on the management of soil through latest technologies including precision agriculture for maximum output/production to meet the world’s demand for food. He further suggested to the Pakistan soil scientists to have analyzed the soil of whole country for its nature and properties, which could better reflect for its needs and the required practices/inputs. He also indicated that soil is like a living material having several organisms which take part in its development and greatly contribute to crop production. Polluting the soil with chemicals results in transfer of toxic materials in the produce ultimately consumed by humans and health hazards.

Mr. Patrick T. Evan, the FAO representative in Pakistan in his address, greatly appreciated the celebration and admired the efforts of Department of Soil Science, its faculty and students in this regard. He shared with the participants, the latest developments taking place in the developed countries for sustainable management of soils to grow healthy foods.

Other speakers including, Mian Alam, Ex. Director Soil Survey Department, Ch. Muhammad Rafiq, Dr. Muhammad Bashir, and Prof. Dr. Safdar Ali, Prof. Dr. Saleem Akhtar, Prof. Dr. Khalid Saifullah of  PMAS-AAUR also spoke on the occasion. While sharing their views they highlighted the importance of soil as a critical component of the natural system and as a vital contributor to the human commonwealth through its contribution to food and water. They stressed on increasing the public awareness of soil and its contribution to humanity and the environment.  They highlighted the importance of soil and the need to use it sustainably.

Earlier, Prof. Dr. Saleem Akhtar, chairman, department of Soil Science, welcome the participants and shared the aims and objectives of organizing this seminar. On the occasion he talked about various efforts and contribution of Department faculty and students to manage the soil of the country.