Advancing Agricultural Science for National Prosperity
Agriculture is playing a crucial role in the economy of Pakistan as its second largest sector. It is contributing around 22 percent of the national GDP and employs about half of the country's labor force through its various sub-sectors including crops, livestock, poultry, fisheries and forestry.
It is estimated that approximately 65 percent of Pakistani population living in the rural areas directly or indirectly relies upon agriculture for their livelihood. The share of agriculture in foreign exchange earnings is around 60 percent. It is also worth-mentioning that a large number of Pakistan's politicians and legislators come from rural background and occupy influential ruling positions in almost every government. Thus, agriculture sector is deeply implicated in Pakistan's socio-economic and political scenario.
On the other hand, in spite of being blessed with conducive climatic conditions, availability of millions of acres of arable land and water resources, world's best developed irrigation system, valuable livestock breeds and unique fruits and vegetable varieties, our beloved country is being affected by the unresolved chronic issues like hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity.
According to recent estimates, about 60 percent of our population is food insecure. Moreover, Pakistani agriculture sector is being affected by a declining growth trend for last several years. Overall low productivity, incompatibility with population growth, inconsistent policies, weak agricultural research and extension services, underdeveloped infrastructure and agricultural marketing system, skewed distribution of land holdings are the major reasons for this negative growth trend.
There is a great need to bridge the gap between the exploitable potential in agriculture and our current capacity to fulfil not only the future needs of growing population but also to economically strengthen the nation and the Ummah.
Founded in 1980, the Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum (PAS Forum) provides a vibrant and active platform for agricultural professionals in academia, research, and field operations to join hands, pool their skills, and devise policies for the uplift and betterment of the nation and the agrarian community.
The forum is officially incorporated as a company limited by guarantee under Section 16 of the Companies Act, 2017 (XIX of 2017) with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), bearing Corporate Unique Identification No. 0176472 (dated June 2, 2021).
Committed to practical impact, the forum actively drives climate-smart projects, fosters agricultural startups, and ensures the seamless transfer, skilling, and scaling of innovative technologies directly to farmers in Pakistan and wherever needed.
It fosters the generation and transfer of knowledge as a professional home for hundreds of scientists, field officers, academics, and agribusiness professionals across all sectors of agriculture, including crops, livestock, forestry, and natural resources.
The forum is dedicated to nation-building through securing food, conserving natural resources, alleviating hunger and poverty, and collaborating with global partners for shared causes on regional and international scales.
PAS Forum regularly holds conferences and seminars to highlight important issues, synthesize applicable recommendations, lobby for food security, and share knowledge. Since 1991, the forum has also published an impact-factor journal, The Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences (JAPS) .
Let us be part of this noble cause!
Having observed the widening abyss between agro-based industry and the declining current situation of agriculture in Pakistan, the objectives are to:
