News

A delegation from the University of Queensland, Australia, and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) visited the University of Sargodha (UoS) to discuss ongoing collaborations and review the progress of the Citrus Value Chain Project — a joint initiative aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s citrus sector from production to export.
The delegation included Dr. Tim Sun, Senior Researcher at the University of Queensland; Dr. Rajindra Adhikari, Project Leader and Professor at the University of Queensland; and Dr. Munawar Raza Kazmi, Country Manager–Pakistan for ACIAR.
During their visit, the delegation met with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Sargodha and senior administrative officials to discuss collaborative efforts and Australian-funded research projects. They were briefed on various academic and research initiatives undertaken by the University in partnership with international institutions.
Later, the visiting team, along with Prof. Dr. Ejaz Ashraf, UoS Project Team Leader, Prof. Dr. M. Irfan Ullah, and other project members, visited field sites at Chak 118 and Chak 9NB.
The delegation observed on-ground project activities, including interactions with citrus growers, processors, and exporters — key stakeholders of the citrus value chain.
Prof. Dr. Ahmed Sattar, National Team Leader from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), also joined the visit and appreciated the collaborative spirit and research commitment demonstrated by the UoS team and field partners.
The visit highlighted ACIAR’s continued commitment to supporting Pakistan’s agricultural development through research-driven partnerships that foster innovation, value addition, and sustainable practices. The delegation thanked the Vice Chancellor and his team for their commendable efforts in advancing applied agricultural research and international collaboration.