Islamabad: The University of Agriculture of Faisalabad (UAF) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan has said Pakistan's move of importing pulses worth $1 billion every year is a matter of concern for the country.

He was quoted as saying by Dawn News that the university was working on new varieties of chickpea to promote it in irrigated areas and that their production would increase by 500 times.

Now, its average production is five maunds, whereas, with the new agronomic practice, 25 maunds per acre would be attained.

He said there is a misconception about GM soybeans, whereas they are equally good and being used in the developed world.

He said that the university was growing new types of soybeans at farmers’ fields to overcome the import of edible oil and to meet the demands of poultry feed.

He added that the new faculty of humanities and arts is in the making.

He added that the university had planned research to promote the Punjabi language. In this regard, the Waris Shah Chair would be established.