Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi underscores universities' role in food security, innovation

Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi on Tuesday emphasized the key role of universities in ensuring food security, promoting research and innovation, and driving sustainable national development

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Jun, 2026) Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi on Tuesday emphasized the key role of universities in ensuring food security, promoting research and innovation, and driving sustainable national development.

He made these remarks while addressing the concluding ceremony of a comprehensive Faculty Development Programme (Training of Trainers – ToT) titled "Advancing Social Entrepreneurship in Agriculture for Sustainable Peace Building," organized by Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The initiative was aimed at strengthening the professional capacities of university faculty members while promoting innovative approaches to agricultural entrepreneurship, youth empowerment and sustainable peace.

Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar (S.I.) attended the ceremony as the guest of honour. Vice Chancellor PMAS-AAUR Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman welcomed the distinguished guests along with deans, directors, faculty members and senior university officials.

Addressing the participants, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi said faculty development initiatives were essential for strengthening higher education institutions and preparing future generations to address national challenges.

He said such professional training programmes significantly contributed to the intellectual growth of faculty members and ultimately improved the quality of education.

He said agricultural universities such as PMAS-AAUR played a pivotal role in ensuring the nation's food security and advancing sustainable agricultural development. He added that university-led research, innovation and the adoption of modern technologies were key drivers of national progress and economic prosperity.

The minister congratulated the vice chancellor and his team for successfully organizing the faculty development programme in collaboration with UNODC.

Speaking on the occasion, HEC Chairman Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar said universities served as engines of innovation, technological advancement and socio-economic development.

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He encouraged faculty members and students to actively participate in competitive research initiatives and international fellowship and scholarship programmes, saying such opportunities provided valuable exposure, strengthened research capabilities and contributed to the overall improvement of Pakistan's higher education sector.

In his address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman thanked UNODC and all stakeholders for their unwavering support, dedication, commitment and tireless efforts in making the programme a success.

He congratulated the participating faculty members on successfully completing the training programme and said faculty development initiatives were essential for improving teaching methodologies, academic excellence and institutional performance.

Highlighting the evolving demands of the modern world, he said universities must cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among students rather than limiting education to conventional employment pathways.

Senior Advisor and Office In-Charge UNODC Syed Arsalan Shah appreciated the collaboration between UNODC and PMAS-AAUR and announced that the trained faculty members would be engaged in additional UNODC capacity-building initiatives, providing them with further professional development opportunities.

Earlier, Senior Legal Expert UNODC and Chief Trainer of the programme Prof. Syed Hussain Haider presented an overview of the training activities and shared the key outcomes of the initiative. He appreciated the exceptional dedication, professionalism and enthusiasm demonstrated by the participating faculty members.

On the occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between PMAS-AAUR and the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture Division to establish a framework for long-term institutional collaboration.

The participating faculty members appreciated the initiative, describing it as highly informative, engaging and professionally enriching.

They said the training equipped them with practical knowledge and innovative perspectives on social entrepreneurship, community engagement, agricultural innovation, leadership and sustainable peace-building.