International Symposium on World Camel Day
3rd International Symposium on World Camel Day organized by Virtual University of Pakistan | On the occasion of World Camel Day, the Department of Molecular Biology of the Virtual University of Pakistan organized the 3rd Annual International Symposium in collaboration with Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences Athal, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan Camel Club, Camel Association of Pakistan (CAP), International Society of Camelids Research and Development (ISOCARD), Saudi Geological Society (SGS) and Camel for Life International.
اونٹوں کی سماجی اور اقتصادی اہمیت کے موضوع پر انٹرنیشنل کانفرنس کا انعقاد
اونٹوں کی بریڈنگ اور بیالوجی پر کتاب شائع
کیمل کوین ویلری کرینشا کا پاکستان کا دورہ، خصوصی گفتگو
Dr. Tanveer Hussain, Chairman, Molecular Biology Department of the Virtual University of Pakistan, was the chief organizer and focal person of the symposium.
World Camel Day Inaugural Session
The inaugural session was attended by President Camel Association of Pakistan and Acting Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Prof. Dr. Anas Sarwar Qureshi as the chief guest while former President and founding member Camel Association of Pakistan, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Younis, was the guest of honor.
On this occasion, Rector of the Virtual University of Pakistan Dr. Arshad Saleem Bhatti, Director ORIC Dr. Arshad Hussain Hashmi and other faculty members and students of the university were also present. More than three hundred participants from different countries of the world were part of the symposium online.
World Camel Day Highlights Pakistan’s Potential in Camel Production
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Professor Dr. Anas Sarwar Qureshi highlighted the importance of camel production in Pakistan. He said that Pakistan is of great importance in the world in terms of camel production. Many benefits can be obtained from this animal at the economic level.
To meet the growing demand for food and deal with the future environmental crisis, he stressed the need for collaborative research on camels, registration of camel herds, organized marketing, establishment of camel health centers and selection and use of modern breeding techniques.
He appreciated the initiative of Dr. Tanveer Hussain and the Virtual University of Pakistan for organizing the symposium for the third consecutive time and bringing together researchers and experts related to camels from all over the world on one platform.
He also praised the efforts of Dr. Tanveer Hussain and his university in highlighting the importance of camels in Pakistan and internationally. He also appreciated the leadership of Rector Virtual University of Pakistan, Prof. Dr. Arshad Saleem Bhatti in this regard.
World Camel Day Technical Session Focused on Camel Production and Health
Various technical sessions were also organized in the symposium in which experts from Pakistan as well as other countries spoke.
In the first technical session, Professor Talal Anwar Abdul Karim, Department of Animal Production, University of Baghdad, highlighted the potential of Iraqi camels in terms of desert restoration and future investment in Iraq.
He said that this animal has the ability to transform low-grade plants into high-quality food products while enduring the harshness of the environment.
American camel expert and author Christina Adams spoke about the efficacy of camel milk in terms of autism and its positive effects.
Professor Dr. Karima Al-Salihi, College of Veterinary Medicine, Al-Muthanna University, Iraq, highlighted the benefits of camel hump oil in various hair and skin diseases. Dr. Abdul Raziq Kakkar from Al-Ain Farms highlighted the importance of camels in the face of future challenges of food shortages and environmental crises.
Dr. Artabindu Sahu, a camel expert from India, discussed the importance of camel milk in diabetes and its insulin-like efficacy.
Dr. Tahira Mohammadabadi, Professor of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Iran, described camel milk as a superfood in terms of its benefits in gastrointestinal diseases, food allergies, cancer and viral hepatitis.
Professor Dr. Hamid, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum, highlighted various aspects of the epidemiology and control of dermatophytosis in camels.
Camel Immunity, Nutrition and Disease Control
At the beginning of the second technical session, Dr. Pamela Berger, Senior Scientist, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Vetmed University, Vienna, Austria, discussed the immune response of camels to COVID-19 and the immune system of camels.
Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Dr. Ziaur Rehman, spoke about the National Feral Camel Action Plan in relation to the Australian economy.
Professor Dr. Elahi Bakhsh Marghzani, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences, Athil, discussed the effects of feed on the overall milk production of camels. He emphasized on training farmers for increasing the productivity of camel milk and its commercialization.
Professor Dr. Ehtesham Khan spoke about brucellosis in camels.
Closing Ceremony
The chief guest of the closing ceremony of the symposium was Vice Chancellor Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Skrand Professor Dr. Muhammad Farooq Hassan. On this occasion, Finance Director of Virtual University Naeem Tariq and Controller Examination Dr. Faisal Tahseen Shah were also present.
Professor Dr. Muhammad Farooq Hassan highlighted the camel’s ability to withstand harsh conditions and its importance in production. He appreciated the organization of the symposium and the exchange of information among researchers.
At the end of the ceremony, Dr. Tanveer Hussain thanked all the researchers and participants from different countries and different parts of Pakistan. Shields as well as certificates were also distributed on this occasion.
