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Faisalabad, December 8, 2015 – U.S. Consul General Zachary Harkenrider and Punjab Ministers for Agriculture and Law Dr. Farrukh Javed and Rana Sanaullah Khan participated today in a groundbreaking ceremony for the $30 million U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF).

UAF and the University of California, Davis will collaborate through this center to drive innovation and growth in the agriculture sector. To support this university partnership, USAID will fund the construction of state-of-the-art laboratories, a library, and other research facilities at the new center, in addition to supporting graduate student exchange programs. The Center’s research and outreach to the private sector will focus on topics such as climate change, precision agriculture, and biotechnology.

“The United States remains strongly committed to creating economic growth and employment opportunities for the people of Pakistan and considers the agricultural sector a top priority,” Harkenrider said. “We are confident that our investments, in partnership with the Government of Pakistan, will bring long-term positive growth in the sector.”

Punjab Minister for Agriculture Dr. Farrukh Javed praised the joint efforts of USAID and its partner universities, noting the United States has played a key role in promoting education and research in agriculture to support Pakistan’s socioeconomic development.

More than 200 people, including UAF Vice Chancellor Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, UAF students, faculty, and industry representatives attended the groundbreaking, celebrating the partnership in higher education and research between the United States and Pakistan.