RAWALPINDI:A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Onnuri unmanned Aerial Vehicle Company South Korea and Pir Mehr Ali Shah-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) to establish a training center for the usage of drone technology in precision agriculture and related fields.Terming it a milestone for the country in popularizing the drone technology in agriculture and related fields, Vice Chancellor PMAS-AAUR, Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman said that this center would not only provide trained manpower for unmanned aerial vehicles locally but also create Job opportunities for Pakistani youth internationally.He said that it was a need of the hour to strengthen industry-academia ties to promote modern agricultural technology to resolve the issues being faced by the farmers.Precision agriculture was key to increasing per-acre production, eliminating poverty and ensuring food security, he added.The VC said that PMAS-AAUR had established a smart IoT Farm with an aim to promote digital and precision agriculture in the country which would enable Pakistan to not only become self-sufficient in agricultural production but also realize the dream of exporting agricultural products.

ISLAMABAD:The general manager and other officers concerned of the National Highway Authority (NHA) were conferred with magisterial powers by the Punjab government on Friday.

Federal Minister for Communication Maulana Asad Mehmood met with caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Syed Mohsin Naqvi while Secretary Communications Captain (R) Khurram Agha, Chief Secretary Punjab, Chairman P&D, Additional Chief Secretary Home, Member Finance Muhammad Tayyab and other officials were also present in the meeting, said a press release.

In the meeting, it was decided to award magisterial powers to NHA GM and other relevant officers.

After being given magisterial powers, the NHA officers concerned would now control the prices of food items on motorways and highways. They would also exercise magisterial authority for encroachments on national highways and violations of the official price list.

The minister said providing convenient and affordable passenger facilities on motorways and national highways was the top priority. “We will take all possible measures to prevent accidents on motorways and national highways,” he assured.

In the meeting, it was also agreed to make fitness certificates mandatory for vehicles coming from Punjab to prevent accidents on national highways.

The Punjab CM directed the transport department to make fitness certificates compulsory for vehicles plying on motorways and national highways.