LAHORE, In a bid to address livestock farmer concerns, the Institute of Continuing Education and Extension (ICE and E) of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore convened a meeting to evaluate and bolster the Livestock Assistant Diploma (LAD) program.
According to University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nasim Ahmad chaired the discussion, with key attendees including Director ICE and E Dr. Hassan Mahmood Warriach, Principal Para-Veterinary Institute Layyah Dr. Absar Ahmad, Principal LSTC Sheikhupura Dr. Khalid Hussain, and various faculty members from affiliated centers.
In his address, Prof. Dr. Nasim Ahmad underscored the urgency of refining the practical training for LAD students. He articulated the university’s mission: to prime graduating para-vets with top-tier skills, enabling them to provide high-caliber, on-site services to livestock farmers. He emphasized that delivering such outstanding service is paramount for the continued growth and success of Pakistan’s livestock industry, which in turn, significantly bolsters the national economy.
Offering further insight, Dr. Hassan Mahmood Warriach highlighted the recent strides made by ICE and E. These initiatives encompass the recruitment of a multidisciplinary faculty, the launch of a village extension program, the embrace of participatory teaching methods, enriched practical training for students, and an array of student-centric activities like sports and recreational tours. Additionally, the establishment of a rural development training center for brief courses, faculty capacity-building measures, and the inception of the ICE and E Lahore center were also noted.
To provide a comprehensive view of the program’s future, attendees received details on the activity calendar, timelines for diverse administrative tasks, coordination strategies for seamless execution of the LAD program, plans for student internships, and avenues to optimize their impact. The discussion also covered sports and co-curricular activities for students and addressed the challenges and issues the program currently faces.