Sino-Pak scientists are working to turn the sandy soil of Gwadar green. Chinese and Pakistani scientists are developing different plant species that adapt to local conditions to green the sandy land of Gwadar, the “shining pearl” of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“So far, nearly 100,000 seedlings of bananas, dates, orchids have been planted there under the Belt and Road Engineering Research Center for Tropical Arid Non-Timber Forests jointly established by South Central University of Forestry and Technology, China Overseas and Figs. Cultivated Ports Holding Company Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd and Yulin Holdings in 2018.
Currently, Sino and Pak are collaborating more and more closely at the Gwadar research center. Pakistani universities participated in the research, including the University of Karachi (KU), Indus University, and the University of Agriculture in Faisalabad. According to assistant professor Dr. Muhammad Yousaf Adnan of the KU Department of Botany, researchers from China and Pakistan are working together to transform arid lands and drought areas, particularly Gwadar and other coastal areas, into green areas.
“In this way, we can counter the effects of global warming and climate change. Now a beautiful and well-developed laboratory has been developed in Gwadar and laboratory experiments with tissue cultures have been conducted there. We grow such drought-satisfying varieties there,” he said.
“Most of the local population in the coastal areas does not have a good source of income. When I went to Gwadar for an exchange event last year, I saw with my own eyes the local people buying seedlings and plants prepared in the tissue culture lab and planting them in their area. Local people benefited greatly from this,” said Dr. Muhammad Yousaf to CEN.
“I am 100% confident that cooperation will bring many benefits to the economy of Pakistan and China, especially Pakistan’s economy. If we can do that, Gwadar will be a model for how we can green an area under environmental stress,” he said confidently.
“We should plant crops in Gwadar or our arid tropical environment that will not only provide shade, oxygen, carbon dioxide regulation, and environmental benefits, but we will also be able to monetize through them. We also need to look at the benefits of our local communities and farming communities,” said Associate Professor Dr. Irfan Ahmed of Faisalabad Agricultural University.
Promising results have been achieved as if they could now grow bananas and harvest there for the first time, he added.
In addition to joint research, the exchange of personnel is also an important part of the collaboration. “Through the exchange program Chinese students, teachers, and students will come to Indus University and understand the environment, agriculture and culture here. Likewise, Pakistani students and teachers will also go to China and benefit from this university,” said Khalid Amin Sheikh, president of Indus University.
