The International Conference on the Significance of Potash Use in Pakistani Agriculture took place from 24-25 November 2016. The conference was organized by the Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAGS), University of the Punjab, Lahore in collaboration with the International Potash Institute (IPI), Switzerland under the umbrella of the Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), University of the Punjab. Financial support was provided by the University of the Punjab, IPI, Fatima Fertilizer Company (Private) Ltd., Fauji Fertilizer Company (Pvt.) Ltd., and Agrifert Pakistan. Around 200 national participants attended the conference. One of the international speakers, Dr. Muhammad Arshad Javaid (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia), was able to deliver his lecture in person, whereas Mr. Hillel Magen (IPI, Switzerland) and Prof. Richard Bell (Australia) delivered their lectures through video message.

The Inaugural Session

The inaugural session began with a recital from The Holy Quran. Sent on behalf of Punjab’s Agricultural Minister, Dr. Noor-ul-Islam, Chief Executive of the Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB), was the chief guest in the inaugural session. Other distinguished guests included Prof. Dr. Javed Iqbal Qazi, Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences, Prof. Dr. Sajid Rasheed Ahmad, Principal of the College of Earth and Environmental Sciences (CEES), and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saleem Haider, Director of IAGS. Dr. Sajid Ali (Conference Secretary and Assistant Professor at IAGS) briefed conference participants about the objectives of the conference, before Prof. Dr. Haider welcomed the speakers, participants and sponsors. In his welcome address, Prof. Dr. Haider highlighted the importance of crop nutrition, and especially potash, in agricultural production in Pakistan. He also described the importance of holding conferences for sharing and discussing research being carried out in different parts of the country and abroad, and disseminating the research to farming communities. He thanked the participants for attending the event, sponsors for their financial support, and the organizers and volunteers for arranging the conference.