Agriculture has special significance for our country as it contributes one-fourth to GDP. It provides employment to approximately half of our total labor force and more than 70% population is directly or indirectly dependent on this sector. We face the challenge of ever-increasing population and depended upon food imports. God Almighty has made us not only self-sufficient but also capable of exporting surplus produce. Flow of funds from Government to PARC has been static for the last several years, although salaries have been increased constantly leaving very little for research activities. The lack of resources for the agricultural research will have a great setback in the times to come.

 Fortunately, the Government of the United States of America donated wheat valued at US $ 23.2 million as grant to the Government of Pakistan. The agreement signed between the two Govts  in march 1999.The convents of the agreement provided that the local currency generated through the sale proceeds of wheat will be used to establish “Agricultural Linkages Program” for promoting research cooperation between Pakistan and the USA in the areas of agricultural sciences.

Historically, PARC has been coordinating international activities of this type since late 1950’s through PL-480 Program with USDA. Again during 1980’s PARC Coordinated USAID programs, particularly Board of Sciences and Technology for International Development (BOSTID) Program with the US Academy of Sciences. Both the programs were very successful in terms of scientific achievements and cooperation.

The GOP allowed PARC to establish “Agriculture Research Endowment Fund” wherein all proceeds raised from the sale of US wheat will be transferred for investment on Government approved schemes.  The income thus generated is to be used for the promotion and support of agricultural research and development activates in accordance with Pakistan’s long term research/ development goals for the agriculture sector. Our focus is on food security, poverty alleviation and promoting broad based equitable and sustainable agriculture.

I am sure that this program will help us in achieving these goals. The program also encourages and supports the exchange of agricultural scientists and agricultural research managers for enhancing linkages of Pakistan’s Agricultural Research System with the US research systems and with the other developed countries. 

Besides the research partnership and linkages with the US scientists, the Agricultural Linkages Program has a built in provision to extend Pakistan’s agricultural research partnership with other national or international research systems. I would be grateful if other countries and organizations also participate for building the agricultural research linkages with PARC.

I express my gratitude to the Government of USA through USDA for the help to promote agricultural research and development activities in Pakistan.

 I also appreciates the efforts of two “M” Dr. K. A. Malik, Ex-Chairman, PARC and Dr. Waqar Malik, CSO/Incharge (SSD) and also Mrs. Shahida Jamil, Executive Director (ALP) and their team (Scientists & Staff of Planning Directorate) in conceptualizing and materializing this historic program and organizing this event for ultimate benefit of humanity and particularly Pakistan.

This publication prepared by the ALP Secretariat embodies a set of guidelines, procedures, instructions for developing ALP projects; ALP proformae and management regulations for scientists interested to participate in ALP. The terms and procedures framed in this instructions manual are, however, subject to change to our needs.

              Sd/     

 (Dr. Badaruddin Soomro)

       Chairman, PARC