profession, who could become leaders with the the graduates would expect that having a piece of required skills and mental bent towards taking paper would increase the probability of their being farming as seriously as is actually required, employed, as has been a norm previously in our instead on the people who are turning their backs society or they are delusional that there is a on society and looking for white-collar jobs. potential employer waiting for them out there, Kisht-e-Nau: Agriculture University Faisalabad which also is not the case any longer. It is a is now recognized nationally and internationally holistic paradigm shift that we are working on our because of co-curricular activities too, would you degree or diploma holders that securing jobs now like to say something to/about the students who is possible only for those who have some skill and diligently work to carry out these activities. ability to be self-employed or who can offer Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan: Indeed, it is a very solutions for the problems that the employers impressive contribution from UAF students in bring to them, thus creating jobs not only for regards to co-curricular engagements. Co- themselves but for others as well. And that's what curricular activities used to constitute a sleepy entrepreneurship is all about. As for our ambition, component of our educational output at UAF, now we intend to prepare graduates both for our after pretty hard and long efforts these have market, and for the markets beyond borders. So, acquired such eminence and importance that we are set to preparing internationally compatible there is something happening around us almost and competent graduates. The fact is obvious all the times. Obviously, students have made it from the relative number of overseas grants our happen, and we are very happy, satisfied and students have won over the years. The race for grateful also about all this. But at the same time, producing MScs and PhDs is a subsidiary issue. we have to be aware, you know, of the purpose of We do need more and more PhDs, but the way we Kisht-e-Nau: Sir! UAF has secured many be grasped regarding Pakistani context is that doing all this. The Purpose is not just recreation or are trying to increase the bulk of researchers in stunning achievements under your dynamic Agriculture is no longer as rewarding a profession entertainment for that matter. The purpose is to the country is not the way to go for it. We have to leadership. UAF is now ranked 87th among the here as it used to be once. The people are running make sure that our students become more be very selective, and must focus on producing 100 best agricultural universities in the world away from farming, and those who are holding on responsible and responsive as individuals, only those PhD scholars who have serious according to NTU, 86th as per QS World to it aren't making enough money. But we are part having the sense and sensibility to run this inclination towards research, who are inquisitive Universities Ranking, and also stands out in of the globalized world and economy. Whatever society, and that they become representatives of many other rankings. Agrarians will be happy to good is happening in agriculture in the rest of the the university wherever they go, leaving lasting know about any future plans and targets you have world is directly consequential for our agriculture, impressions on the minds of the people they set for the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. and as such for our economy. The dilemma is that meet. While we have been performing very Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan: University has we produce more than what we need, but due to impressively to handle co-curricular activities, I been growing steadily and making its mark. the lack of governmental planning for handling have many frustrations regarding our sports side. However, I believe that in future we have several the surplus yield it is the farmer community which We have failed to take up the campaign for sports daunting challenges which also include among is suffering and paying the price for want of proper to the desired level, the reason being that people others the task of absorbing pressure on infrastructure and policy. And if we look at farming seem too reluctant to spend time in sports fields. enrollments and admissions. Every year we are efficiency, that in itself is also a questionable The consequence is that the balance is rather having 30 to 40 ٪ more applications than the issue. So, to cut short my response to your disturbed. There is a lot happening, though, as preceding year. In fact, public perception and question, I think, the foremost challenge UAF now our co-curricular pursuits are constantly on the expectations have gone very high, and justifiably faces is to come up with solutions to the problems rise but very little is taking place in the field of so because if everybody says that it is a world of civil society, not just those of students. We have sports, and that is the biggest of challenges as to ranking university, they should obviously be been able to attend to the students well but the how to create willingness and an environment demanding of it, too. The university does have need of the hour is to communicate appropriately that people start spending time in sports fields many dedicated people, and has developed a with the society as well, and we obviously need to also. very huge infrastructure, and we are enhance our capabilities to address agriculture Kisht-e-Nau: Sir! UAF is producing agricultural conscientiously doing whatever we can for the related and other impending societal issues. We graduates and PhD scholars in bulk and they all society. But the thing is, despite all efforts all we are already investing heavily by providing great are seeking jobs, but we all know that job market are doing is not sufficient. There is plethora of educational opportunities to our faculty and by is already saturated. In this situation the Idea of issues which still need be addressed for the sake increasing infrastructural efficiency to make these entrepreneurship is being projected and seems of our community. To us, the larger definition of organizational objectives reachable. And if I have already very much in vogue, what is your vision community basically encompasses rural and to spend more into it, I would like to spend on the about the future agricultural entrepreneurship? farming community. This community is students who are also prepared to work, who Does it provide enough justifications to increase conspicuously stressed. Another fact that must have real penchant for farming to own it as a the number of agri. Graduates? Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan: Quite obviously, 14 15 about real-life issues, who can address issues sessions with overseas scholarship awardees, anticipating these ahead of time, and who have insisting upon them our vision for a bright future of enough skills and confidence to work in state-of- Pakistan, but I am still seeing majority of them the-art laboratories and set-ups. Producing PhDs shying away from going to America. A mindset in bulk, therefore, is something which certainly does prevail here, that our people take a PhD for deserves a longer debate from many different getting just a PhD degree which would serve as a perspectives. The other day, I was discussing license to get them white-collar jobs, and yes with someone the case of 50 PhD overseas these degrees, PhDs, and white-collar jobs scholarships we recently awarded. It would help verses problem-solving vision pose a tough but clarify here how subtly the cause of promoting worthy challenge to be taken up. research culture has to be handled that no aspect Kisht-e-Nau: During your tenure, university has of societal as well as professional uplift and experienced tremendous growth in almost all diversity is left unattended. Among the fifty aspects, be that in infrastructure, ranking among awardees of overseas scholarships about half 100 best world universities, or human resource are women. And we are pushing all of them to go development to a phenomenal level, to wit, in to America. It is because in US system you have everything. As a leader, are you satisfied or some to go through the rigours of course work, and of your goals and ambitious are yet unfulfilled? comprehensive examinations. Then, of course, Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan: If I am to put it your research and thesis defense harden you honestly, I would say I am not satisfied at all. But against any sort of professional challenge. here I must acknowledge and give credit to the 500 to 600 events every year. Regrettably, I still billions of birds to people as food, and involving Opposite to US system, you can go to UK, teamwork due to which we have been able to cannot say that I am satisfied. It is because we trillions of rupees as investment. For all of this Germany, Australia, New Zealand and France make many groundbreaking headways. A lot has have not attended to the stake holders or clients, revolutionary transformation to take place, UAF's and do a PhD without any course work. Indulging been achieved in terms of organizational that actually was the reason behind creating this role has been pivotal, as the society was in research activity from the very outset means competence and performance. We have been institution. If we look at the background or history furnished with leadership, skills and other that you can still end up doing good research, but able to add much value to the university's output.