Faisalabad Division

Faisalabad : ReNews Pakistan
Pakistan’s first Food and Agriculture Museum is being established at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, with the Punjab Higher Education Commission expected to provide Rs 300 million in phased funding for the landmark project.
The museum will preserve Pakistan’s agricultural heritage while presenting the development of farming practices from traditional methods to modern, technology driven agriculture. It is also expected to serve as an educational and research facility for students, farmers, scientists and the general public.
The project was reviewed during the third Joint Technical Meeting chaired by Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairperson Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Zulfiqar Ali welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of preserving the country’s agricultural history for future generations.
Speaking at the meeting, Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that reconnecting people with their cultural and agricultural roots had become increasingly important as rapid modernisation continued to weaken public awareness of historical farming practices.
He said museums were not merely places for displaying historical objects but also served as centres of education, innovation and public awareness. Such institutions, he added, help preserve the scientific, cultural and social development of farming communities alongside traditional agricultural tools and artefacts.
Professor Dr Khan also recalled the historical role of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. He said the institution was originally established as the Punjab Agricultural College and Research Institute in Lyallpur on the recommendations of the colonial-era Famine Commission to promote modern agricultural education and improve farming in the subcontinent.
According to him, the museum is expected to receive Rs 300 million through the Punjab Higher Education Commission under the Annual Development Programme. The funding will be released in phases and used for the development and establishment of various museum galleries.
UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Zulfiqar Ali said preserving agricultural heritage was essential for ensuring that traditional farming knowledge, practices and experiences were transferred to younger generations.
The proposed museum will be the first institution of its kind in Pakistan and will cover an indoor display area of approximately 55,000 square feet.
Its galleries will document the evolution of agriculture across the country and display indigenous seed varieties, traditional wooden ploughs and other historic farming equipment. The museum will also feature greenhouse models, genomic breeding techniques and digital precision farming technologies.
Through a combination of historical exhibits and modern agricultural innovations, the museum is expected to provide visitors with a comprehensive understanding of how Pakistan’s farming sector has evolved and how emerging technologies could shape its future.

Faisalabad: [ReNews Pakistan]
Divisional Commissioner Mussarat Jabeen has directed all relevant government departments to expedite the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and complete outstanding legal requirements for private housing schemes awaiting approval from the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA), aiming to accelerate development and improve public access to essential services.
The directives were issued during a high-level meeting chaired by the commissioner to review the approval process for private housing schemes and identify the key factors causing delays.
During the meeting, FDA Director General Muhammad Asif Chaudhary informed participants that a number of housing schemes remain pending because concerned departments have not yet issued the required NOCs or completed other mandatory legal formalities.
Commissioner Jabeen instructed all institutions involved in the approval process to strengthen coordination and treat pending NOCs and related documentation as a priority. She stressed that unnecessary delays in approvals not only slow down development but also prevent residents from receiving essential civic amenities such as electricity and natural gas connections.
She further directed the Deputy Commissioner to regularly monitor the progress of housing schemes under FDA review and ensure that issues delaying approvals are resolved without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.
In addition to speeding up approvals, the commissioner emphasized the importance of public safety in private housing developments. She ordered authorities to ensure that all sewerage manholes are fitted with protective covers and that additional safety measures are implemented wherever required to prevent accidents.
Warning against negligence, Jabeen said strict action would be taken against any individual or department found responsible for incidents resulting in loss of life or property due to inadequate safety arrangements.
The meeting reflects the administration's broader effort to streamline the approval process for private housing projects, improve inter-departmental coordination, and ensure that new housing developments comply with legal and safety standards while delivering timely services to residents.

Faisalabad: [ReNews Pakistan]
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) have agreed to enhance institutional coordination and accelerate the processing of housing finance applications under the Prime Minister's Apna Ghar Scheme, aiming to make affordable home ownership more accessible for eligible citizens across the country.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting held at the FDA Complex in Faisalabad. The meeting was chaired by FDA Director General Muhammad Asif Chaudhry and attended by SBP Chief Manager Fouzia Aslam, senior FDA officials, and representatives from commercial banks participating in the housing finance programme.
During the meeting, participants reviewed the current implementation of the scheme and agreed on a series of measures to improve efficiency. These include streamlining administrative procedures, strengthening inter agency coordination, and appointing dedicated focal persons from both the SBP and the FDA to ensure quicker processing of loan applications and prompt resolution of applicants' concerns.
Speaking at the meeting, SBP Chief Manager Fouzia Aslam said the Prime Minister's affordable housing initiative has received an encouraging response from the public. She revealed that more than 76,000 applications have been submitted nationwide during the past six months. Of these, over 18,000 applications have been approved, while financing has already been disbursed to more than 3,000 successful applicants, reflecting steady progress in the programme's implementation.
Under the Apna Ghar Scheme, eligible applicants can obtain housing finance of up to PKR 10 million at a subsidised annual markup rate of 5% for a repayment period of up to 10 years. The financing is available for the construction of houses on residential plots measuring up to 10 marlas, making home ownership more affordable for middle- and lower-income families.
FDA Director General Muhammad Asif Chaudhry assured the State Bank and participating financial institutions of the authority's full administrative support.