LAHORE: The Planning Commission of Pakistan has approved development project of University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) worth Rs 980 million.
A UVAS spokesperson said the development project “Enhancement of Research Facilities at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore’s Ravi Campus, Pattoki”, was approved in a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Prof Ahsan Iqbal. The project will be completed in three years which envisages development of a high-tech Central Laboratory Complex linked with the onsite research centres for quality postgraduate research in nine domains to meet the industrial needs. The nine domains/labs will be Diagnostic Lab, Food Hygiene & Safety Lab, Food Chemistry Lab, Genetics and Bioinformatics Lab, Micro-Structure Lab, Animal Nutrition Lab, Meat Technology Lab, Leather and Fiber Lab and Sensory Evaluation Lab.
The project also aimed to upgrade the onsite research facilities and physical infrastructure in the departments of Fisheries, Wildlife, Poultry, Dairy, Sheep/Goat, Buffalo, Cattle Production and Healthcare for enhancing postgraduate research capacities. A multipurpose hall will also be built for organising national/international conferences, seminars, webinars, symposia and industry trainings. A Central Library for postgraduate students and lecture halls will be built to accommodate the increased student strength for comfortable teaching. Under the project an Office of Research Innovation and Commercialisation (ORIC) will also be established to strengthen the academia-industry linkages through market-oriented research. A Student-Teacher Centre for one-window availability of student facilities and onsite residences will be built for faculty members and postgraduate students coming from far-off places. Speaking about the project, UVAS Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha said UVAS was in the process of building up its capacity to discharge its mandatory functions of teaching, research and technology development. He said as research was the focal point of the university education across the world, this project would contribute to the generation of new knowledge and discovery of new frontiers of creativity and innovation. UVAS Director Planning and Development Dr Muhammad Afzal said this development project would strengthen Ravi Campus in terms of HRD, teaching/research laboratories, establishment of physical structures for new departments and upgrade of existing ones.
