The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Sub-campus Umerkot have successfully organized a 2-day international conference on Biodiversity of arid zone in Umerkot Sindh on March 7 & 8, 2023. The conference brought together scientists, conservationists, policymakers, and other stakeholders from various life sectors to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to biodiversity conservation in arid zones. The conference was a resounding success, with a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops that helped to shed light on different aspects related to the topic.

The research organizations under Southern Zone Agriculture Research Centre, Karachi displayed remarkable achievements and literature through a stall. The stall was visited by a large number of people and dignitaries including the provincial Minister of Education and Culture, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, VCs of Sindh Agriculture University, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur and many others. They expressed their keen interest in the research achievements of the research & development organizations and showed their support for the research endeavours for betterments of the agricultural sector in Pakistan specially related to bio-saline agriculture in Thar Desert. A couple panel talks were hosted at PARC’s Arid Zone Research Centre, Umerkot on the subjects of Climate Resilient Crops & Livestock Production for Food Security, in which Dr. Zakir Hussain Dahri DG, SARC Karachi presented and discussed as a panel expert. The other panel discussion was on ‘Camel as a Ship of Desert. The other panel discussion on ‘Avian History, Importance and Conservation in Arid Zone’, was held at the Sindh Agriculture University, Umerkot Campus. Dr. Attaullah Khan, Director Arid Zone Research Centre, Umerkot also chaired a technical session on ‘Ecosystem of Arid Zone’ and delivered keynote speech on new paradigm for agricultural development and challenges of Arid Zone.

Dr. Zakir Hussain Dahri, Director General SARC, Karachi delivered concluding address on the behalf of the Chairman PARC and appreciated the efforts of Arid Zone Research Centre Umerkot and Sindh Agriculture University Umerkot Campus for hosting the conference.

Through this conference, the participants have enhanced knowledge, shared experiences and discussed possible ways to address the challenges of conserving biodiversity in the arid zone.

All participants commended PARC and SAU for their excellent organization and engagement of participants from all around the world.