AIOU inaugurates Olive Orchard for academic experiment.

ISLAMABAD -- An Olive Orchard has been inaugurated here Tuesday at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) which is to promote production of the olive fruit in the country.

It is an extension of the University's botanical garden for promoting academic research in gardening and horticulture sector.

The AIOU's Olive Orchard will work as full-fledged nursery to give academic support to the students of agriculture sciences, said Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Zia-Ul-Qayyum at the inaugural ceremony that was largely attended by the officers and the employees.

He assured that work force (gardeners) involved in its development will be fully encouraged and facilitated. He hoped that they will properly look after the Orchard that is hopefully to start producing the fruit within 3-4 years.

A reasonable space has been allocated in the main Campus for its development and around 1500 saplings have been planted that have been made available with the support of National Olive Promotional Project.

The Vice Chancellor while planting its sapling along with other officers of the University announced that the AIOU will be a helping hand to the government for production of the precious fruits like Olive. The University...