Ludhiana, September 20,2018: Former President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai on Thursday interacted with the Afghan students studying at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana.
Karzai expressed his gratitude to the PAU authorities and the faculty for maintaining a close association with the Afghan students while helping them with their curriculum.
He complimented the students for opting for a degree in agriculture at one of the world’s best agricultural universities. “I feel happy to see that these students have interest in agriculture as compared to conventional degree courses,”said Karzai.
Stating that agriculture is the backbone of Afghanistan, he said “I am hopeful that your rich learning at PAU will help strengthen agriculture back home, while developing strong relationship with the farmer.”
Karzai also shared his concern for the dismal levels of water table in Afghanistan, urging the students as future leaders to help conserve the same.
Earlier, Ismatullah Amiri, a student of B.Sc Agriculture welcomed the President and assured on behalf of his fellow Afghan students that their great experience at PAU will certainly help make the country agriculturally independent and advanced.
There are 15 students from Afghanistan pursuing Bachelors’ and Masters ‘degrees in Extension Education, Plant Pathology, Horticulture, Agricultural Economics and Agronomy at PAU while another three are enrolled at Ludhiana’s vet varsity.
PAU Vice Chancellor, Dr B.S. Dhillon presided over the meeting. Chairman, Punjab Farmers Commission, Ajayvir Jakhar and Dean Post-Graduate Stuidies, PAU, Dr G.K Sangha were also present.