Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad inaugurated the sub campus of the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) at the Government Degree College Attock on October 20, 2014.Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad said that present Government is utilizing maximum available resources to provide higher education facilities to the youth living in far flung areas and for the purpose billion of rupees are being spent and its ample proof is establishment of PMAS-AAUR campus in Attock where classes are being started today.

He said education is the basis of progress of all nations, adding that no nation could make progress without strengthening education and educational institutions. He congratulated the people & youth of the city on establishment of campus and said that young generation is our future.

Federal Minister said that the establishment of university campus would help to promote higher education in the area. He said that after the establishment of this campus, intelligent students of the district will get better chances of higher education and these youth after seeking higher education will serve the country in a better way.

He said that Chief Minister Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is taking keen interest in the development of far flung areas. Sheikh ASftab said that for construction of new campus of this university soon one thousand kanal of land will be allocated which will cost one billion rupees.

He said that approval for medical college and cancer hospital has also been given. He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wanted to make Pakistan a development country but some anti Pakistan elements are creating hurdles.

Earlier Vice Chancellor, PMAS-AAUR Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz in his address said that Attock Campus of Arid University will prove a mile stone in imparting agriculture education to the youth, which will help to develop agriculture sector of the region. He said that so for 87 students have taken admission in this campus who will be provided all facilities. He lauded the services of State Minister Sheikh Aftab Ahmed in establishing this campus. 

Vice Chancellor was of the view that the progress of the country can be made only by the development of agriculture sector and said that Pothwar area has great potential for it. He stressed the need for focusing on value addition and orchard farming. High value agricultural products will be helpful to generate better income for farmers in the country, he added.

On the occasion, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad suggested the techniques of rain water harvesting to overcome the problem of water scarcity and informed the gathering that University has harvested nearly 45 Acre Feet of rainwater in small ponds at its Research Farm of 250 acres, where integrated approaches of modern farming are using like drip/sprinkler irrigation for orchards, tunnel farming for vegetable production etc.

He emphasized the need of rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, investing in solar water pumps & biogas units to make irrigation more efficient and economical to solve the problems regarding water scarcity. He stressed that there is dire need to adopt latest techniques on farm water management to make barren lands productive

Among others, Dean Faculty of Crop and Food Sciences  Dr. Safdar Ali, University Registrar Dr. Sarwat Naz Mirza,  Principal Dr Muhammad Riffat , DCO Attock Ch Habibullah, ADCG Kinza Murtaza, AC Nazarat Ali, DSP Hafeez Ahmad Aulakh, teaching faculty, parents and students were also present on the ocassion.