Peshawar – Adviser to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Agriculture and Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture Swat Mian Muhammad Umar chaired the fifth Senate meeting of the university, which approved a budget of more than Rs501 million for the financial year 2026-27.
Secretary Agriculture Dr Bakhtiar, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture Swat Dr Daud Jan and other members of the Senate attended the meeting.
Addressing the Senate, Mian Umar said the University of Agriculture Swat was playing an important role in promoting agriculture in mountainous areas. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s mountainous regions had considerable potential for agricultural development, which could be realised through modern research, technology and scientific farming practices.
The Senate considered the university’s proposed budget for 2026-27 and approved an allocation of more than Rs501 million after detailed deliberations on its various components and financial requirements.
The meeting also reviewed the university’s expenditure for the financial year 2025-26, with members discussing its financial affairs, utilisation of resources and expenditure patterns.
A detailed third-party audit report of the university was also presented before the Senate. Members examined the report and discussed matters relating to financial management and transparency.
The university’s Annual Report for 2024-25 was also presented to the Senate, providing details of its academic and research activities as well as its overall performance during the year.
Mian Umar stressed the need for the University of Agriculture Swat to give greater attention to research tailored to the needs of farmers in mountainous areas. He said research should focus on modern farming techniques, improved seed varieties, climate-resilient crops and technologies suited to the region’s particular agricultural conditions.
He said agricultural universities and research institutions could play a key role in increasing productivity, improving farmers’ incomes and modernising the agriculture sector in the province.
The adviser emphasised the need to strengthen coordination between universities, research institutions and farming communities to promote sustainable agricultural development and ensure that the benefits of research and innovation reached farmers across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
