
KARACHI:
Pakistan is an agriculture-based country where more than 16 million hectares of land is cultivated through the world’s largest contiguous irrigation network. Agriculture contributes to more than 19.3% of the GDP and is by far the largest sector that provides work to the poor.
An agriculture engineer has to rigorously study many courses that deal with multiple disciplines during their undergraduate degree program. Thus, agriculture engineers are fully capable of using their technical skills as well as their research knowledge in many different sectors including agriculture, irrigation, and environment. However, they are not being hired to serve in these departments. The conundrum is that even though their degree is recognised and accredited by Pakistan Engineering Council as an “engineering” degree, engineering departments count the degree as an “agriculture” degree while agriculture-related departments consider it as an “engineering” degree. Thus, the degree holders are left in the lurch.
Thousands of degree holders are running from pillar to post for placements, but the concerned departments are refraining from employing these highly qualified graduates. When departments are not able to recruit the right people, they will never be able to deliver. It is my humble request to the Prime Minister to look into the matter personally and resolve the issues of these graduates.
Dr Altaf Siyal
Tandojam
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2021.
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