ISLAMABAD: The Scientists and Employees associations of the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council Tuesday appealed to Chairmen Standing Committees of the National Assembly and Senate on National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) to prevail upon Capital Development Authority (CDA) not to acquire land of NARC as it would irreparably damage the national institution.
The PARC Scientists Association (PARSA) and Employees Association PARC (EAPARC) held a protest demonstration on the Park Road for urging the government not to sacrifice the agriculture sector at the cost of housing societies, according to statement issued by PARC.
The protesters were chanting slogans that “No Compromise on NARC”, ” Convene early meeting of Standing Committees, “damn with land mafia” etc.
Speaking on the occasion, the President PARSA, Dr. Altaf Sher said that establishment of housing society on NARC land would affect agriculture sector, which has been contributing 24% to National GDP and employing 45 percent of the country’s labour force.
He said that more than forty years have been spent on development of this world-standard research centre, and if dismantled, it would perhaps take eighty years to develop it to the existing stage.
He said that the centre has been established with the financial assistance of foreign agriculture organizations and donors, adding that currently about nine international organizations have offices in the NARC premises.
He said that transformation of NARC land into housing society would be a great set back to development of agriculture sector as it would send bad signals to the outer world, resultantly Pakistan agriculture sector may lose the foreign financial assistance in the form of various projects.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman EAPARC, Rana Maqsood urged the scientists to get united for this important cause as the agriculture was important sector of country’s economy feeding 200 million people.
