The two-day Distinguished Innovations Collaboration and Entrepreneurship (DICE) compet
ition ended on Sunday at the Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture, Multan. Hundreds of students from 34 universities of Pakistan participated and over 170 business models were presented in the event.
Provincial Energy Minister Dr Akhtar Malik and Provincial Minister of Punjab for Management and Professional Development Syed Hussain Jahania Gardezi inaugurated the event. Members of National Assembly (MNAs) Wasif Mazhar Raan, Saleem Labar and Sabeen Gul were also present of this occasion.
Presiding over the session, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture Dr Asif Ali said that the objective of organising this event is to promote entrepreneurship among the students. The compet
ition held among the 170 business models which shows the diversity of ideas in the minds of young students, said Dr. Asif Ali. In the event, compet
ition of pulses’ dishes was also held. The aim of pulses dishes compet
ition was to highlight the importance of pulses and their benefits for a healthy body, the VC said. Eating pulses is better than eating junk foo
d because pulses are free of chemicals, he added. There are two categories of pulses’ dishes including professional and non-professional.
Under the professional competition, first pos
ition was bagged by Ramada hotel, second pos
ition by Awari Express and COTHM while third pos
ition was held by China Town Restaurant. In the non-professional competition, University of Sargodha Team got first position, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture team got second pos
ition and Rise Co
llege for girls’ team got third position. Women have fully participated in the event and they were much aware about the health benefits of pulses, the vice chancellor said.
Cash prizes of 15,000 rupees were given to first pos
ition holders, 10,000 rupees to second pos
ition holders and 5000 rupees to third pos
ition holders both in professional and non-professional categories.
Volka Foods Chairman Chauhdry Zulfiqar Ali Anjum while addressing the students said that use of pulses in our daily diet was being diminishe
d because we prefer to eat junk food that causes negative effect of health. He said that pulses are rich in fiber and good for managing cholesterol. Moreover, pulses are also good for the digestive system and regulate the ener
gy level in our body, he added. He said that pulses are rich in iron, calcium, potassium, zinc and magnesium.
Under the industrial expo, latest agricultural equipment and machinery were also displayed and the new agriculturists were apprised of using technological methods of cropping so that they would be able to increase their productivity with minimum resources and time. Over 30 stalls were set up in the industrial expo where the students displayed agricultural machinery.
Women University Multan Vice Chancellor Dr Uzma Qureshi said that such events shoul
d be organised on regular basis. She said that Pakistani students are second to none and they have come up with very unique and innovative ideas in the event. Such events help in showcasing the talent of young generation for the larger benefit of society, she added.