Public expenditure on education as percentage of GDP would be increased from 2.05% in 2007-08 to 7.08% during the next year so that the country can rise on educational as well as economic fronts by promoting small and medium enterprises and expanding the employment opportunities for educated and galvanized youth. This was stated by Mr. Abid Sher Ali MNA and Chairman Standing Committee on Education during his meeting with visiting Associate Dean, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California Davis US Dr. Jim Hill and UAF VC Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan in VC Chamber.

He informed the visiting professor that Punjab Government while prioritizing education, agriculture and information technology spending enormous funds to equip the new generation with technical, vocational and higher education and to trickle down the effects of agricultural development in the rural masses by pro-famer policies of the government. Mr. Abid Sher Ali emphasized for academic exchange program between UC Davis and UAF as there is a commonality of many issues between both institutions which can be addressed effectively by such initiatives.

Dr. Jim Hill told the meeting that California is the major crop producing state of the US with more than 350 agricultural produces and by-products. UAF VC Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan hoped that during his forthcoming visit to US, he will certainly explore possibilities of faculty and students exchange as well as collaborative research of both the institutions.