Two state-of-the-art genetics laboratories have been established to carry out research in animal breeding and genetics at Faculty of Veterinary & Animal Sciences (FV&AS) of PMAS-Arid Agriculture University having modern facilities including cell culture gadgets, high speed centrifuge, PCR, q-PCR, Gel-Doc and ultra-low (-80 0C) freezer.

The laboratories were jointly inaugurated on December 17, 2015 by Executive Director of Higher Education Commission (HEC) Prof. Dr. G. Raza Bhatti and PMAS-AAUR Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmed, HEC DG (P&D) Dr. M. Mazhar Saeed and representatives of the US Embassy Katherine Matheson (NAS, USA) and Gul-e-Afshan (Program Coordinator S & T Program).

PMAS-AUR Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad warmly welcomed the distinguished guests on the occasion and said that the University administration is making all out efforts to improve standard of research and teaching in the institution.

Prof. Dr. G. Raza Bhatti admired the efforts of Dr. Muhammad Moeen-ud-Din in achieving this milestone in his career. He also congratulated the university administration for this achievement and assured full support of HEC to further raise standard of research and education.

He hoped that the laboratories would not only provide training to the postgraduate students but also open up new avenues of research in animal breeding and genetics.

It is pertinent to mention here that a research group under the leadership of Dr. Muhammad Moeen-ud-Din has also succeeded in winning huge funding worth Rs. 70 million for four research projects of extreme national significance.

The team includes Dr. Muhammad Moeen-ud-Din, Group Leader/Associate Professor (PhD and Postdoc, China; Molecular Geneticists), Dr. Ghulam Bilal (PhD, Canada; Quantitative Geneticist), Five Research Associates (One DVM and four M. Phil), four field/livestock assistant, and one office boy.

Following the vision of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad the team is actively working to resolve the national issues of livestock production related to genetics and breeding.

National collaborators of the group include Prof. Dr. Muhammad SajjadKhan (Tenured Professor of Genetics) at University of Agriculture Faisalabad and Prof. Dr. Sohail Ahmed (Professor of Genetics) at the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, whereas international collaborator includes Prof. Dr. James M. Reecy from Iowa State University, USA.

These laboratories are not only open for researchers and students of various disciplines of PMAS-Arid Agriculture University but also for all institutes across the nation.

A workshop on “Goat Breeding” was also organized in which the speakers highly appreciated establishment of these laboratories that would help to preserve biodiversity, enhance conservation, and develop local goat breeds in Pakistan.

The workshop was organized at PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi in collaboration with Iowa State University, USA under Pakistan–USAID research project titled “Collaborative Research for Genetic Conservation and Improvement of Pakistani Goats”.

The workshop helped highlight the issues related to goat breeding, biodiversity, conservation, and development of local goat breeds, current problems and bottleneck and ways and means to overcome these challenges.

A strategy was chalked out especially about application of modern genomic technology in current set up of goat production; which is the most recent technology being adopted worldwide for genetic improvement of livestock.

The experts in animal breeding and genetics joined the event along with all stakeholders. The key note lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Sajjad Khan for resolving existing challenges related to selection of breed for genomic selection and future of genomic science in Pakistan.

He emphasized that all stakeholders must join hands with Dr. Muhammad Moaeen-ud-Din to achieve the goals of the project that would not only present a soft image of Pakistan at the international level but would also help start a new era of genetic selection in Pakistan.

Dr. Abdul Rehman, Director Breed Improvement L&DD, Punjab, and Dr. Mansoor Ahmad, Director Small Ruminants, L&DD, Punjab, showed  full cooperation in achieving the goals of this important project.

They appreciated the efforts made by Dr. Muhammad Moaeen-ud-Din and his team and assured them their cooperation.  At the end, the session was closed with vote of thanks from Prof. Dr. M. Safdar Anjum, Dean FV & AS.