Wheat Research Institute, Faisalabad

11/05/2026

Extreme temperature fluctuations, drought, and heat stress are increasingly affecting wheat production worldwide. This report from the US Plains is a reminder that climate variability is becoming a serious challenge for agriculture everywhere, including Pakistan, where changing weather patterns are already impacting crop growth and productivity.
A timely read on the future risks to wheat farming and food security.

Temperature swings have left crops across the Plains in terrible conditions, with some farmers opting not to harvest

11/05/2026

Harvesting and threshing at agriculture research organizations is very different from routine farmer field operations. Here, every plot, every seed lot, and every genotype carries years of research and careful selection. Maintaining the identity and purity of germplasm during harvesting and threshing is not a simple task, it depends heavily on skilled labour, trained field staff, and experienced supporting teams who handle the material with great care and precision.
These staff members are an essential part of the research system. From labeling and handling breeding material to avoiding any mixture during threshing, their role directly affects the quality and reliability of research outcomes.
Unfortunately, labour shortages and vacant positions of field assistants and supporting staff for many years are creating serious difficulties for Ayub Agricultural Research Institute,Faisalabad-Pakistan. At a time when agricultural research is expected to advance rapidly, strengthening this workforce is equally important because they are the backbone of field research activities.

07/05/2026

📢 Join International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), HarvestPlus, and HarvestPlus Solutions for a virtual seminar, “Success Pathways for Scaling Biofortified Crops.” on May 12, 2026.

The event will offer a practical, experience-based discussion on what it takes to scale biofortified crops, highlighting what has worked, what has not, and the enabling factors that have supported success across different country contexts.
Speakers will also share practical examples from Pakistan, Nigeria, and other countries, with a focus on enabling environments and private sector engagement in scaling biofortified crops.

🎟️ Register here: https://www.ifpri.org/event/success-pathways-for-scaling-biofortified-crops/
CGIAR fans Wheat Research Institute, Faisalabad NARC-National Agricultural Research Centre Islamabad University of Agriculture Faisalabad - Official

06/05/2026

Interns at the Wheat Research Institute, Faisalabad are busy these days with wheat phenotyping, focusing on key grain-contributing traits. They are closely observing and recording details that really matter for yield.

This hands-on work is helping them connect theory with practice and understand how these traits play out under real field conditions. 🌾

01/05/2026

آج، مزدوروں کے عالمی دن پر، ہم اپنے کام کے پیچھے خاموش قوت کی تعریف کرتے ہیں۔ بیج کی تیاری اور بوائی سے لے کر فصلوں کے انتظام، کٹائی اور گہائی تک یہ کارکن ہر قدم پر بے پناہ محنت کرتے ہیں۔
اس دن، ہم ان کی محنت کا اعتراف کرتے ہیں اور ان کے لیے زندگی میں نیک خواہشات کا اظہار کرتے ہیں۔
Today, on International Workers’ Day, we truly appreciate the silent force behind our work.
From seed preparation and sowing to crop management, harvesting, and threshing these workers put in immense effort at every step. Much of what they do goes unseen, yet it keeps everything moving.
On this day, we acknowledge their hard work and wish them all the very best in life.

25/04/2026

The Wheat Research Institute, Faisalabad takes great pride in celebrating a wonderful academic milestone within our wheat family.

Heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Makki Javed, Senior Scientist (Wheat Pathologist) and head of the Wheat Rust Group, on the successful completion of his Ph.D.

His research, “Genetic Improvement of Rust Resistance in Wheat using Advanced Breeding and CRISPR/Cas9-based Genome Editing Approaches,” marks a significant contribution toward developing resilient wheat varieties and strengthening food security.

We sincerely acknowledge the mentorship of Dr. Naseer A. Saeed, Director NIBGE, Faisalabad, for his guidance throughout this journey. The support and encouragement of Dr. Javed Ahmed, Director Wheat, AARI Faisalabad, are also deeply appreciated.

Wishing Dr. Makki Javed continued success and many more achievements ahead.

24/04/2026

ہمیں پنجاب کی ممتاز یونیورسٹی کے طلباء کے ایک گروپ کی گندم ریسرچ انسٹی ٹیوٹ، فیصل آباد میں ان کی تعلیمی انٹرن شپس کی میزبانی کرتے ہوئے خوشی ہو رہی ہے۔ یہاں پر اپنے وقت کے دوران، وہ گندم کی فینوٹائپنگ اور پلانٹ فزیالوجی سے واقف ہو رہے ہیں، حقیقی فیلڈ حالات میں ہماری ٹیموں کے ساتھ مل کر کام کر رہے ہیں۔

ان کے جوش و خروش اور عزم کو دیکھنا حوصلہ افزا ہے کیونکہ وہ عملی تحقیق میں مشغول ہیں۔ اس طرح کے تجربات نہ صرف ان کی سمجھ کو مضبوط کرتے ہیں بلکہ سائنس دانوں کی اگلی نسل کی تشکیل میں بھی مدد کرتے ہیں جو زرعی اختراعات اور غذائی تحفظ میں اپنا حصہ ڈالتے ہیں۔

We’re glad to have a group of enthusiastic students for their internship at the Wheat Research Institute, Faisalabad. Over the past few weeks, they’ve been involved in hands-on work learning wheat phenotyping and exploring key aspects of plant physiology in real field conditions.

It’s encouraging to see their curiosity, effort, and willingness to learn. Experiences like these go a long way in shaping future researchers and strengthening the foundation of agricultural science.

21/04/2026

21/04/2026

گندم کی نئی اقسام کی نشوونما اور تشخیص کے لیے صوبائی یکساں گندم کی پیداواری آزمائش (PUWYT)، گندم ریسرچ انسٹی ٹیوٹ، فیصل آباد کے ذریعے منعقد کی جا رہی ہے۔
اس سال، تقریباً 30 مقامات پر، سرکاری اور نجی دونوں شعبوں سے دو چیک ورائٹیوں کے ساتھ، 68 ایڈوانس لائنوں کی جانچ کی جا رہی ہے۔ یہ ایک ضروری عمل ہے، اور ہمارے سائنس دان ایک جگہ سے دوسری جگہ جا رہے ہیں، بروقت کٹائی اور درست ڈیٹا اکٹھا کرنے کو یقینی بنانے کے لیے طویل وقت تک کام کر رہے ہیں۔
اس سلسلے میں ڈبلیو آر آئی فیصل آباد سینئر سائنس دان محمد اویس اور سائنٹیفک آفیسر ثقلین شبیر کی خلوص نیت کو سراہتا ہے جو مشکل میدانی حالات میں یہ سرگرمیاں جاری رکھے ہوئے ہیں۔ ان کا عزم اور محنت غذائی تحفظ کے حوالے سے ہماری کوششوں کو مضبوط بنانے میں اہم کردار ادا کر رہی ہے۔

The Provincial Uniform Wheat Yield Trials (PUWYT), a key step in the development and evaluation of new wheat varieties, are being conducted by the Wheat Research Institute, Faisalabad.
This year, 68 advanced lines are under testing, alongside two check varieties from both government and private sectors, across nearly 30 locations. It’s a demanding process, and our scientists are moving from site to site, working long hours to ensure timely harvesting and accurate data collection.
In this regard, WRI Faisalabad sincerely appreciates the dedication of Muhammad Owais, Senior Scientist, and Saqlain Shabbir, Scientific Officer, who continue to carry out these activities under challenging field conditions. Their commitment and hard work are playing an important role in strengthening our efforts toward food security.

20/04/2026

Hybrid Wheat in Pakistan

Pakistan is making steady progress in developing high-yield hybrid wheat, with leading agricultural institutions in Punjab working together under a coordinated programme and receiving support from international experts. As highlighted in this news report from Lahore, Dr Javed Ahmad shared that this joint initiative led by Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture Multan, along with the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and Wheat Research Institute Faisalabad aims to develop climate-resilient, high-yielding wheat varieties to strengthen food security.

Researchers are exploring advanced approaches to improve yield potential, disease resistance, and tolerance to heat and drought. Although hybrid wheat has not yet been commercialised in Pakistan or globally, the ongoing work reflects strong potential for future breakthroughs. Click the link below to read the full story and learn more.

Pakistan expands hybrid wheat research to boost yields and climate resilience, with Punjab institutions and global experts collaborating.

20/04/2026

ہمارے پرنسپل سائنسدان ڈاکٹر فیصل حفیظ کو ڈائریکٹوریٹ جنرل ایگریکلچرل ایکسٹینشن پنجاب کے زیر اہتمام گندم کی پیداوار کے مقابلے 2026 کے لیے ڈسٹرکٹ فیصل آباد کمیٹی کے ممبر کے طور پر منتخب کیا گیا ہے۔

اس مقابلے میں گندم کی تازہ ترین اقسام جیسے فلک 2024، سویرا 2024، عروج 2022، دلکش 2020، اور دیگر شامل ہیں۔ اصل مقصد یہ ظاہر کرنا ہے کہ جب کسان بوائی سے لے کر کٹائی تک تجویز کردہ پیداواری ٹیکنالوجی پر سختی سے عمل کرتے ہیں تو کیا حاصل کیا جا سکتا ہے۔

فصلوں کے مناسب انتظام کی حقیقی اہمیت کو ظاہر کرنے کے لیے یہ ایک بہترین سرگرمی ہے، کیوں کہ صرف اسی صورت میں ہم ان جدید اقسام کی حقیقی پیداواری صلاحیت حاصل کر سکتے ہیں اور اپنے کھیتوں میں زیادہ سے زیادہ ممکنہ پیداوار حاصل کر سکتے ہیں۔

Dr. Faisal Hafeez, our Principal Scientist, has been selected as a member of the District Faisalabad Committee for the Wheat Yield Competition 2026, organized by the Directorate General Agricultural Extension Punjab.

This competition is featuring the latest promising wheat varieties like Dilkash 2020, Arooj 2022, Falak 2024, Sawera 2024, and others. The main goal is to demonstrate what can be achieved when farmers strictly follow recommended production technology from sowing till harvest.

It’s a great activity to show the real importance of proper crop management, because only then can we unlock the true yield potential of these modern varieties and get the highest possible production in our fields.