Australian and Pakistani efforts to improve Pakistan’s agricultural sector
Islamabad :- Marking 40 years of Pakistan-Australia agricultural collaboration, Australian High Commissioner, Neil Hawkins and Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) CEO, Professor Wendy Umberger today launched bus art depicting ways to save water and improve food security.
Public buses will carry cartoons created by Australian alumnus and renowned cartoonist Nigar Nazar, which convey messages to raise community awareness of simple practices to achieve sustainable agriculture and address the impacts of climate change including water scarcity. The messages reflect Australian and Pakistani efforts to improve Pakistan’s agricultural sector over the last four decades.
In launching the project, High Commissioner Hawkins said: “For 40 years, Australia has stood beside Pakistan, working to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in agriculture and water management. This bus art initiative captures the essence of that collaboration—using creativity to inspire action and connect people in rural and urban Punjab.”
ACIAR CEO, Prof Wendy Umberger said: “We are honoured to celebrate this milestone through such a creative and impactful initiative that reaches beyond the fields and into the daily lives of Pakistanis. ACIAR has worked closely with Pakistani farmers, scientists, and policymakers over the past 40 years to develop sustainable agricultural practices, improve food security, and enhance livelihoods, particularly in Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan.”
The initiative will involve five public buses which travel around Punjab’s agricultural heartlands, reaching thousands of commuters and passersby. The cartoons aim to encourage those that see them to conserve water and support sustainable farming practices.
Cartoonist Nigar Nazar attended a professional course from the University of Canberra. She was awarded the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz honour from Pakistan’s President in 2023.