HYDERABAD:Four researchers from Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, have earned international recognition after being included in the Stanford-Elsevier list of the world’s top two percent scientists, highlighting the university’s research contributions in agriculture and allied disciplines.
The achievement was celebrated at a ceremony held at the university’s Senate Hall on Wednesday, where Vice Chancellor Engr Prof Dr Altaf Ali Siyal presented shields to the researchers and called for greater emphasis on research that addresses local challenges and delivers tangible benefits to society.
According to the SAU spokesperson Gul Sher Lochi, the researchers featured in the global list are Dr Asghar Ali Kamboh of the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Dr Liaquat Ali Lund of the Department of Basic and Agribusiness Management at Khairpur College of Agriculture and Management Sciences, Engr Dr Imran Ali Lakhiar of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage and Dr Fazal Nabi Shar of the Department of Poultry Science.
Addressing the ceremony, Dr. Altaf Siyal said research should not be pursued merely to obtain academic degrees but should focus on resolving public problems and responding to changing economic, social and climatic conditions.
He stressed that research at the master’s and PhD levels must generate meaningful outcomes for society. He urged faculty members to produce quality research and publish their findings in reputable journals to strengthen the university’s international standing and increase its representation among globally recognized scientists in the coming years.
The Vice Chancellor observed that research conducted by foreign institutions and donor agencies did not always yield lasting benefits for local communities, as their approaches were often shaped by the circumstances and priorities of their own countries. Local researchers, he said, were better positioned to understand regional needs and develop practical solutions suited to Sindh’s conditions.
He identified agriculture, poultry, livestock, agribusiness, information technology and other agriculture-related fields as areas with considerable scope for further research. He encouraged scholars to explore under-researched topics and align their work with the needs of farmers, industry and society.
Dr Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar also spoke about the importance of research, innovation and strengthening the university’s research culture. Dr Ghulam Hussain Wagan, Director of University Advancement and Financial Assistance, gave a presentation detailing the researchers’ achievements and their inclusion in the global list.
The four researchers also shared their experiences and discussed their respective areas of scholarly work. A shield was presented to Dr Habibullah Magsi of the Department of Agricultural Economics in recognition of his academic contributions. Dr Magsi is a recipient of the Best Teacher Award from the Higher Education Commission, Islamabad.
Deans Dr. Inayatullah Rajper, Dr Aijaz Ali Khooharo, Dr Ghiasuddin Shah Rashdi, Dr Abdul Mubeen Lodhi and Dr Muneer Ahmed Mangrio, along with a large number of faculty members and experts, were also present at the ceremony.