He was addressing at the launch of the Postgraduate Diploma Course on Food Safety and Control at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) on Monday.
He said that the government transformed a 40-year-old system by establishing the food authority with objectives to monitor and regulate the supply chain through a team of professionals.
Now the governments of Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were asking the Punjab government for making such arrangements in their respective provinces.
“Owing to a prestigious institution, capable faculty and state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, UAF became a mainstay of our operations and the linkage between UAF and PFA is an integral part of the mutual goals,” he said.
Ali said that PFA was manned by UAF graduates and by keeping in view the upcoming offshoots of the authority in other cities of the province, PFA will be the major employer of food graduates produced by UAF.
He asked the university management to provide policy support for future guidance, adding that food production, manufacturing and future supply chain need to be regulated effectively. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed with UAF for further boosting collaboration.
Earlier, UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that UAF was proud of producing best human resource to serve the industry, business and farming community at large.
Referring to emerging global trade trends, he said “we need to link our curriculum with the international job market to address issues as a responsible member of the international community.”
He described the newly offered diploma course a stepping stone towards degree programmes in food science. Officer In charge of Trade-Related Technical Assistance (TRTA II) Programme Ali Abbas said that the objective of the programme was to develop professionals for development, implementation and audit of food safety and control, thereby to enable Pakistan to develop capacity to meet the global food safety and quality requirements and enhance competitiveness of food products.
He was of the view that the postgraduate qualification in food safety will enhance job opportunities for young graduates and at the same time increase the safety of locally produced food products, both for domestic consumption and exports.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 9th, 2012.
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In agreement with the statement of the honorable Punjab Food Secretary Mr. Irfan Ali the formation of standardisation, in food security, safety. Sir, As we all know Pakistan is blessed with organic food, where there is qualitative matters, need regulation. With livestock the best in the world, I hope the Food department of PUnjab.