Rawalpindi: Arid Prime Minister Youth Programme (PMYP) Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan officially launched a project aimed at transforming Pakistan’s peanut economy through a partnership between the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS AAUR). The initiative, titled the Climate Resilient Peanut Value Chain Development for Rural Enterprise and Economic Graduation Project, seeks to enhance peanut production and value addition while promoting climate-smart agriculture.
According to Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University - Rawalpindi, the three-year project will initially target peanut-growing regions in Gujar Khan and Fateh Jang. Funded by PPAF and implemented with technical assistance from PMAS AAUR, the project aims to improve productivity, create rural enterprises, and increase farmers' incomes through research, entrepreneurship, and market linkages. The initiative will also focus on training approximately 2,000 farmers and modernizing the university’s peanut processing facility.
Rana Mashhood highlighted the government's investments in education and technical skills to build a knowledge-based economy. He emphasized the importance of integrating technical qualifications with conventional degree programs to prepare graduates for global opportunities. The project will also establish research collaborations with Chinese institutions to foster innovation and technology transfer.
PPAF CEO Nadir Gul Barech described the agreement as a strategic partnership that combines research, entrepreneurship, and community development to transform rural economies. Since 1997, PPAF has expanded its outreach to 150 districts, creating millions of employment opportunities and facilitating numerous community-driven development programs. The new project aims to increase peanut productivity and support MSMEs, particularly women-led enterprises, while strengthening branding and market linkages.
The project’s success will be gauged by increased rural incomes, stronger startups, and enhanced participation of women entrepreneurs. The initiative is expected to serve as a model for collaboration between academia, development institutions, and the private sector to promote sustainable agricultural development and economic growth.
Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman, Vice Chancellor of PMAS-AAUR, expressed confidence in the partnership, reaffirming the university's commitment to providing research and innovation to modernize the peanut value chain. The agreement was formally signed in the presence of key officials, marking the beginning of a long-term collaboration to advance climate-smart agriculture and sustainable rural economic transformation in Pakistan.