The representatives from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries Monday showed their interest in importing bioremediation technology from Pakistan aimed at coping with water shortage challenges in their respective countries.
The delegates from SAARC countries including Afghanistan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh showed their interest to import bioremediation technology from Pakistan at a conference to ensure proper use of sewerage for irrigation purposes in their respective countries.
The National Agriculture Research Centre has developed bioremediation model for wastewater treatment for irrigation at the centre. The delegates visited the bioremediation plant in the center, where Director Bio-Remediation Institute, Dr Yousuf Riaz gave them detailed presentation on the technology.
The delegates included Director Information, MoIAF, Afghanistan, Gh. Rabbani Haqiqatpal, Member Director, Fisheries, BARC, Bangladesh, Dr Md Kabir Ikramul Haque, Program Director, ICS, Ministry of Agriculture Bhutan, Deputy Minister Fisheries and Agriculture, Maldives, Mohamed Shareef, Chief Communication, Ministry of Agriculture Nepal, IP Rijal, Director, HORDI, Sri Lanka, Dr Memal Fonseka, Director SAC, Dhaka, SM Bokthiar and Senior Program Specialist (NRM), SAC Dhaka, Dr Tayan Raj Gurung.
The delegates stressed on improving cooperation in the filed of agriculture in order to cope with the growing challenges of poverty. They were of the view that the bioremediation technology would help several water-scarce SAARC countries to cope with water shortage challenges in their respective countries.
They said that huge amount of water had been wasted annually due to non-availability of proper treatment facility but with the help of bioremediation the wastage of water could be controlled.
The NARC scientists have replicated the bioremediation technology in other parts of the country including Islamabad where a project has been set up at Rose and Jasmine Garden to purify the sewerage water.
Chairman Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) Dr Iftikhar Ahmad said that SAARC countries have great potential to cooperate with each other for the development of agriculture sector. “Pakistan was ready to share research and technology with the member countries to help them develop their agriculture on modern lines and also expressed the hope that all the member countries would reciprocate with same spirit and help Pakistan develop the sector,” he said.
