Hyderabad: Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, the World’s Poultry Science Association (WPSA), South Zone Pakistan, and representatives of the private poultry sector have joined hands to strengthen joint laboratory research, enhance academia-industry linkages and create greater research opportunities for students, with A One Feeds Hyderabad providing laboratory equipment and chemicals to support poultry research and academic activities at the university.
The initiative was launched at a ceremony titled ‘Empowering Research and Academic Excellence – Academic Sponsorship by A One Feeds Hyderabad: Nurturing Growth Together,’ organized by the WPSA South Zone Pakistan and the Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, SAU, at the university’s Senate Hall.
The gathering brought together university academics, researchers, students, poultry industry representatives and technical experts, who discussed ways to strengthen research capacity, modernize laboratory facilities and establish stronger, long-term partnerships between academia and industry.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dean Faculty of Crop Production Dr Inayatullah Rajper said universities and industry must work closely to prepare graduates for the rapidly changing demands of the modern job market. He stressed that academic programs and professional skills should be aligned with industry requirements so that graduates could effectively respond to emerging employment and professional opportunities.
He said the private sector should come forward to support universities in establishing and upgrading modern laboratories and research facilities, while experts from academia and industry should jointly conduct laboratory research to develop practical solutions to challenges faced by the poultry sector.
Dean Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Dr Syed Ghiasuddin Shah Rashidi said poultry, alongside livestock, had become an important component of Pakistan’s agricultural and industrial economy. He called upon the private sector to play a more active role in supporting universities, research and academic development.
Dr Shahid Waheed, GM A-One Feeds, said sustainable industrial development was not possible without strong laboratory- and field-based research. He noted that the poultry sector offered considerable opportunities for research and innovation and emphasized the need to transform scientific findings into practical solutions for industry.
Syed Waqar Alam, President WPSA South Zone, said SAU possessed a strong pool of scholars and scientists capable of contributing significantly to the development of the poultry industry. He emphasized that the industry should benefit from the expertise available at the university and said the private sector was willing to support students engaged in meaningful research. Such support, he added, would ultimately create benefits for both academia and industry.
Umar Tariq, CEO A-One Feeds, said students were the country’s valuable human resource and that WPSA was committed to working closely with academic institutions to promote research, professional development, innovation and knowledge-sharing in poultry science.
As part of the initiative, A One Feeds Hyderabad provided laboratory equipment and chemicals for poultry research, helping strengthen laboratory facilities and providing students and researchers with improved opportunities for practical and experimental work.
The participants described the initiative as a meaningful step towards building a stronger academia-industry partnership, stressing that sustained collaboration in research, student training, innovation and technology transfer could contribute to the development of a more skilled workforce and a stronger poultry sector.
Dr Imdad Laghari, Dr Khalid Iqbal (Vice President WPSA Pakistan), Dr Gulfam Mughal, Mr Muhammad Shahryar, Dr Shoaib Pirzada and Dr Muhammad Zakria also addressed the gathering.