• In Brief, the Contributions of

          Dr. Abdul Rauf Bhutta DG (R) FSC&RD, M/O NFS&R GOP Islamabad.

 1.       Dr. Abdul Rauf Bhutta (borne in 1955) belongs to a respectable educational family of a remote district Narowal & now residing in Islamabad since 1986. He did his BSc (Hons.) Agri. and MSc. (Hons) Agri. (Plant Pathology) in 1979 from University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) and Ph.D (Agri.) from SAU in 1998. He is one of the scholar who has published almost whole the thesis in National and International Scientific Journals (13 No research papers).

 2.       Dr. Rauf Bhutta started his career in 1980 as Research officer (Plant Pathology) at Ayub Agri. Research Inst. Faisalabad and has successfully completed 32 years service (2015) at Federal Seed Certification & Registration Department (FSC&RD), Ministry of National Food Security & Research (NFS&R) GoP. Islamabad as Seed Certification Officer/ Assistant Director (BPS-17) to Director General (BPS-20). FSC&RD has recognized his services and contributions.

 3.       Dr. Bhutta has long and rich experience in Agri/ Seed sector. After getting one year higher training & research opportunity in 1985 at Danish Government Inst. of Seed Pathology for Developing Countries, Copenhagen, he has developed seed health system and established first Central Seed Health Laboratories (CSHL) in Pakistan for seed sector at FSC&RD (Hqrs.) Islamabad and Regional Seed Health Labs. at provincial Hqrs. as an integral part of bio-security system & SPS measures. ELISA techniques were used for identification of viruses and free services were provided to private seed sector for the first time in Pakistan during 1986-87. As Incharge CSHL, he tested 95000 seed samples of various crops during 15 years and has standardized/ introduced modern routine seed health techniques as pre-emptive measures and has saved 05 millions rupees annually. He has implemented 3 No. and prepared 25 development projects (PSDP) and has established 15 Seed Testing Labs within the seed regulatory system of FSC&RD.

4.         As team leader, he has conducted 1st. & last Comprehensive Pathological Survey during 2003 & 2005 in GB & AJK & helped their governments to develop seed sector to save annual loss of Rs. 300 million (2003) due to use of diseased and sub-standard seed potato in GB region. Due to activation of Tissue Culture Labs in Punjab & GB, autumn to autumn seed cycle was made functional. This has led to produce surplus quantity of 2.0 million mt. of potato for export purpose during 2013 to 2015. It is just an example that due to on spot training of seed potato growers and availability of disease free quality seed potato, 1000 bags were exported for the first time from GB to Afghanistan by AKRSP/FAO during 2007. He has helped the GB Department of Agriculture to launch wheat seed production programme to reduce almost 100 % dependence of about 0.25 million mt. wheat for which about Rs. 100 million has to be paid as transportation charges from Punjab to GB.

 5.         The nominee has keen interest in organizing of private educational institutions and small farmers in agriculture sector. As Patron-In-Chief, Private Schools Network (PSN), Low Cost Private Schools (LCPS) were organized through multidimensional strategies for providing quality education to students of resource poor parents and deprived communities in suburbs of Islamabad/ Rawalpindi and their rural areas to make a model education districts of Islamabad. For example, Islamabad Board of Examinations (IBE) was established for the first time by the nominee during 1996. Member eyes screening management team for eyes screening of 35000 students of private schools in collaboration with Al-Shifa Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi during 2016-17. Similarly, as a Patron Chief, Agriculture Reform Movement (ARM), organized thousands of small farmers for empowerment in their rights through publication of a magazine “Sohni Dahtri” by an eminent Agriculture Journalist, Mr. Ijaz Siddique Chief Coordinator, ARM. It will not be out of context that Dr. Bhutta has done above mentioned work beyond his routine duties.

 6.         The nominee remained responsible for technical regulatory matters, policy issues and development of seed sector since 1986. Due to multidimensional strategies and good team, more than 700 pvt. seed companies including 05 multinational, were inducted/ allowed to do seed business in Pakistan up to 2008. It has helped increase seed availability from 10 to 25% within 15 years (amounting, 200 million US $). He did work hard to make the seed sector of US $2000 Billion into viable seed industry to harvest the potential of seed sector. Drafts of seed regulatory instruments (Seed Amendments Act and PBR Act) were submitted to Cabinet Div. for legislation by the parliament, which now has been passed during 2015 & 2016 respectively. Similarly, Seed Councils in GB & AJK were also established under his guidance. A new era has been started for investment in seed industry of Pakistan by national and international investors. After study tour of Thailand & Japan (2007), he recommended to establish Federal Seed Regulatory Authority (FSRA) which has now establish as NSDRA 2025. Still much efforts has do for sustainability of national food security. It is strongly believed that Defense Security and Food Security lead to National Security and sovereignty of the country for which Dr. Rauf Bhutta has tried to contribute in his best capacity.

 7.         Dr. Bhutta has visited no of countries to attended 30 national and international seminars/ workshops in Turkey, Syria, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Thailand & Japan for seed sector study tour etc. Although, FSC&RD is a regular member of International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), Switzerland & paying fee. 150 US $ every year but the nominee is still the first & last professional from seed sector of Pakistan who represented the country in 24th ISTA congress at Copenhagen in 1996. A very patriotic contribution is to defeat India for membership in South Asia Group for UN/FAO-IPGRC for Food & Agriculture at the 14th session in Rome during 2013. He has organized 25 local training courses in various disciplines of agriculture/seed sector in collaboration with national and international organizations, notably FAO/ DANIDA. ICARDA. USAID & AKRSP/ AKF etc. The nominee remained 15 years member curriculum committees, University of the Punjab & Higher Education Commission (HEC) for BSc (Hons) Agri. MSc (Hons.) Agri & Ph.D Agriculture level and has introduced 10 new courses in various subjects and even beyond Agri. / Seed Technology, he has introduced / revised a new course of patho-physiology in MBBS degree. He remained visiting faculty at Arid Agriculture University (UAA), Rawalpindi for 15 years where he supervised two PhD & 08 MSc (Hons.) Agri, students for their research work. Due to these volunteer services and expertise, AAU, Rawalpindi has appointed him as Member. Advanced Studies and Research Board (ASRB), since 2013. He did no. of short term consultancies to National & International organizations such as FAO/ UNDP. Sommito Corporation Japan, IFAD / DOA, GB, AKRSP / AKF. MRDP/ NWFP (KPK) & GEMSM/ Government of Sindh. He is a member/ office bearers of a number of scientific/ social societies and scientific journals including Core Group of Life Scientists, COMSTECH and Pakistan Journal of Seed Technology (PJST), Patron Chief ARM and Member, Better Pakistan Foundation, Pakistan Education Foundation and Editor Pakistan Journal of Seed Technology (PJST).

 8.         Dr. Rauf Bhutta has 125 scientific publications including 20 international and 15 books/ proceedings in his credit. Out of these, 05 books has been recommended by HEC in Curriculum of graduate and post graduate at University level. Notably, 03 text books, Introductory Plant Pathology, Seed Pathology & Seed Pathological techniques, published by National Book Foundation (NBF) and Higher Education Commission (HEC), are the most academic contribution still first & last books of local Author in Pakistan. These books has filled the gap of 10-15 years through out the world. In addition to these, Seed Industry of Pakistan and Seed Process & Storage are also still the first & last book of local Author contributions in Pakistan. Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization, UAF has recently declared him technical resource professional for the training of Agri. Officers of Department of Agriculture, Govt. of the Punjab in 2023. He also remained technical resource person at Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar in 2017.  The nominee is one of the pioneer in HR development in seed sector and contributor in academic / curriculum development in the subject of Seed Technology, Ptho-Physiology and Plant Pathology in Pakistan. Based on his contribution, he has been awarded, National Best Award by South Asian Publications (SAP), Life Time Achievement Award by Private School Network (PSN) and Dr. Hafez Gold Medal by Agri. Reform Movement. Number of national & international organizations has also recognized eminent services to farming communities of Pakistan.