April 18, 2025 – Abu Dhabi: The proud moment that Professor Dr. Ghulam Sarwar Markhand, a highly qualified academic at Shah Latif University Khairpur, Sindh, has won the 2025 Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation in the category of “Influential Figure” has brought honour to the whole of Pakistan. The Palace of the Emirates in Abu Dhabi was the venue of the award ceremony, which took place and it was where Dr. Markhand’s revolutionary work on date palm research and sustainable agriculture was recognized.

Make Pakistan Proud: Scientist Wins Big International Award in UAE

The happening, with participants from 66 countries, acted as a platform for the sharing of news and progress in global agriculture. The example of Dr. Markhand clearly says that Pakistan is a serious player not only locally but also on the world level.

Dr. Markhand conveyed his thoughts by saying, “Being given this award is a great honor, and it is both informative and constructive for me as well as for my fellow country.” This statement indicates that the work of the researcher was previously ignored, and the country needs support from other countries to build a better world.

The great moment of the event was the MoU signed by Pakistan and the UAE regarding the First Pakistan International Date Palm Festival in 2025. This MoU will benefit both countries, The MoU will help to share knowledge and skills regarding the growth of date palms and the farming system.

The function was graced by the Federal Minister for Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, who, on behalf, signed the MoU with the UAE, for the conduct of the Second Pakistan International Date Palm Festival in 2025. Mr. Hussain shows emphasis on the urgency of the joint effort: “The new partnership is the outcome of our continued efforts to find innovative solutions for food and environment crises, which is in line with our commitment to sustainable practices.” The minister made this statement.

The award and the approaching festival most notably raise the importance of agricultural relations between Pakistan and the UAE, opening the path for cooperation renewal and sustainable agriculture capacity development.