FAISALABAD: Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has urged students to work hard to drive the country out of energy crisis, water scarcity, low agricultural productivity and poverty in the future.

Addressing the 21st Convocation of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad at the Iqbal Auditorium here on Monday, the governor said the students were an engine of bright future.

He said the nature had blessed Pakistan with tremendous resources and it was our duty to explore and use them to the best of our advantages.`It is really heart burning that half of the population is living below the poverty line. The agriculture sector plays a pivotal role in the poverty alleviation`, he said adding that UAF scientists should expedite their efforts to cope with the challenges of food security.

Mr Sarwar said the government was taking revolutionary steps for the betterment of the agricultural sector. `The white revolution is being focused on improving the quality and quantity of milk,` he said.

At least 2,997 students of the 2013 session were awarded degrees, including 1,297 students of graduation, 1,390 of post-graduation, 209 of M.Phil, 19 of MS (computer sciences) and 82 of PhDs. As many as 39 students were given medals.

Dr Sartaj Aziz called for doubling the agricultural production in the next 15 years to feed the ever-in-creasing population.

He said the research could move the country to new heights of progress and prosperity, adding the food security and global warming were the areas of concerns for the country.

Dr Shamsul Mulk said: `If you educate a man, you educate a person.

But if you educate a woman, you educate a family.

UAF Vice-Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad said a Confucius centre was being set up on the campus with the help of China in which Chinese cultural and language programmes would be offered.

The governor also distributed cheques among the toppers of the Laboratory Girls High School.

Australian Deputy High Commissioner Paul Molloy, Punjab Agriculture Secretary Ali Tahir, and experts from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan were also present.