Lahore, The Faculty of Agricultural Science’s Department of Food Sciences at Punjab University, in partnership with the Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD) of Pakistan, hosted a seminar focusing on the ‘Impact of Climate Change on Food Security’. This was accompanied by a themed walk emphasizing ‘Water is Life, Water is Food’. The seminar saw participation from the Dean Faculty of Agriculture Science Prof Dr. Muhammad Saleem Haider, HHRD’s Head of Operations Sajid Ali, faculty members, and a significant number of students.

According to a news release by University of the Punjab, Eminent speakers, including Dr. Saleem Haider, Dr. Shanawar Waseem Ali, Rana Awais Khan, Dr. Mubeen Awan, and Dr. Arshad Javed, shed light on the alarming impacts of climate change on food systems. Highlighting the stark reality, it was revealed that 184 million people in Pakistan can’t afford a healthy diet. The devastating floods in 2022 resulted in $3.7 billion in losses to food systems. Experts highlighted the urgent need for introducing high-yield crops, supporting smallholders, and ensuring better breeds to cope with production challenges. Given the current trajectory, Pakistan is at risk of facing absolute water scarcity by 2025, primarily due to inefficient water management, inadequate policy planning, and population growth.

The seminar underscored the role of sustainable agriculture in combating climate change and emphasized resilient farming systems. The event exemplified HHRD’s dedication to crafting sustainable solutions and underscored the importance of youth advocacy in this crucial endeavour.