Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University

What Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University does

Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University (PMAS-AAUR), established in 1996 and headquartered in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, is a public-sector chartered university focused on arid and semi-arid agriculture suited to the Potohar region's climate, soils, and water constraints. It operates 22 faculties and institutes across its main Rawalpindi campus and sub-campuses in Attock and Khushab, delivering undergraduate through doctoral programs in agronomy, animal sciences, agricultural economics, food science, forestry, and ICT, with 4,439 degrees and 38 gold medals conferred at the 22nd convocation.

The university runs an integrated research portfolio across dedicated centers including the CPEC-Agriculture Cooperation Center (CPEC-ACC), the Center for Precision Agriculture (C4PA), the Center for Agricultural Sustainability (CAS-D), the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), the Institute of Hydroponic Agriculture (IHA), the National Centre for Livestock Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (NCLBGG), a Central Research Lab, and the field-trial Koont Farm. Technology stack spans IoT-based smart farming, digital agriculture curriculum, and conventional field-trial genomics; an in-house YARR dissertation/publication repository backs research dissemination. International partnerships with Shihezi University (China), Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University (Turkey), KOICA, ACIAR, ICIMOD, PRICE Canada, and industry MOUs with Nestle Pakistan, ZTBL, and the Pharma Manufacturing Association provide external funding and applied-research pathways.

Revenue is derived from provincial government grants (Government of Punjab), student tuition across degree programs, competitive international development grants, and industry-funded research consultancy channeled through ORIC. The organization is governed under the Punjab Universities Act and the Transparency Act, which confer degree-granting authority and public-trustee accountability.

Name

Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University

Legal name

Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi

Website

https://uaar.edu.pk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

PMAS-AAUR is a public-sector agricultural university in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, founded 1996, specializing in arid-zone agriculture research and degree programs across 22 faculties, with sub-campuses in Attock and Khushab serving regional farming communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Agricultural Sciences)

NAICS

Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Agricultural Production & Farm Operations (EDAOAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO), CEA Monitoring, Sensors & Automation Software (SCADA, IoT, Climate/Recipe Control) (AFAAAHAG), Irrigation, Fertigation & Nutrient Delivery Systems (Dosing, Injectors, Sensors) (AFAAAHAE), Plant Tissue, Soil & Water Sampling Coordination (Agronomy-Focused) (AFACABAH)

Keywords

• Agricultural education
• Arid agriculture research
• Livestock breeding genetics
• Precision agriculture
• Hydroponic farming training

Headquarters

HQ city

Rawalpindi Cantonment

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition fees across undergraduate, graduate, MPhil, and PhD programs including fee schedules published for semesters
2. Government Funding and Grants: Research funding from Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), and government ADP projects
3. International Development Projects: Funding from international bodies including KOICA for Pak-Korea Capacity Building Center, ACIAR for agricultural projects, and CPEC-related initiatives
4. Research Services and Consultancy: Revenue from research projects, MOU collaborations with industry partners, and specialized testing services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PMAS-Arid Agriculture University is a public sector university providing degree programs (undergraduate, graduate, MPhil, PhD) in agriculture, veterinary sciences, agricultural engineering, sciences, social sciences, and management/IT. It conducts agricultural research through specialized centers (CPEC-ACC, CAS-D, ORIC, IHA, NCLBGG, C4PA), offers skill development training (hydroponic farming, Pak-Korea Capacity Building Center), publishes the Journal of Agriculture & Biological Sciences, and delivers technology transfer and extension services to farming communities in the Potohar region.

Product overview

PMAS-Arid Agriculture University operates a comprehensive digital ecosystem comprising academic management platforms (UMS Portal, Campus Management System), research and innovation centers (ORIC, CPEC-ACC, CAS-D, Institute of Hydroponic Agriculture), digital libraries (Q.Zaman E-library), administrative systems (E-File Management System), and specialized research facilities (Central Research Laboratory, University Research Farm). The university also publishes the Journal of Agriculture & Biological Sciences and operates training centers including Pak-Korea Capacity Building Center. The portfolio includes both academic/student-facing platforms and internal administrative/research infrastructure serving the university's agricultural research mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Journal of Agriculture & Biological Sciences (JABS): Bi-annual research journal published by the university accepting original scientific work related to agriculture, biology, natural resources, and related social-economic sciences
• CPEC-Agriculture Cooperation Center
• Centre for Agriculture Strategy and Development (CAS-D)
• Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC)

Products and services

• Academic Degree Programs Comprehensive degree programs from undergraduate through PhD across 22 faculties/institutes, including agriculture, veterinary sciences, agricultural engineering, sciences, social sciences, management sciences, IT, and food and nutritional sciences, offered to prospective students seeking higher education in agricultural and related fields.
• Hydroponic Agriculture Skill Development Courses Short-term (3-month) skill development courses in hydroponic and aeroponic farming techniques, offered by the Institute of Hydroponic Agriculture (IHA) for students, farmers, and entrepreneurs seeking soilless agriculture expertise.
• Pak-Korea Capacity Building Center Training Programs Capacity building training programs in agriculture and livestock sponsored by KOICA, offering faculty development and skill enhancement courses at the Pak-Korea Capacity Building Center.
• Journal of Agriculture & Biological Sciences (JABS) Bi-annual peer-reviewed research journal covering agriculture, biology, natural resources, and related socio-economic sciences, published by the university for researchers and academic contributors.
• Agricultural Research and Consultancy Services Research projects, MoU-based collaborations, specialized testing services (including DNA testing), and consultancy provided to government departments, industry partners, and international agencies through ORIC, CPEC-ACC, CAS-D, and specialized research centers.
• Agricultural Technology Transfer and Extension Services Outreach, training, and technology transfer services delivered to farming communities through field visits, training workshops, and capacity-building programs coordinated by CAS-D, addressing agricultural productivity, food security, and adoption of modern farming practices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,439 degrees awarded at single convocation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and moderate.

• China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) FrameworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2021CPEC-Agriculture Cooperation Center (CPEC-ACC) established at PMAS-Arid Agriculture University in September 2021 to explore agriculture cooperation opportunities under CPEC. The center serves as a platform for Pakistani and Chinese stakeholders to collaborate on technology transfer, policy reforms, and joint ventures in agriculture sector.
• Shihezi University, ChinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed between PMAS-AAUR and Shihezi University of China for academic and research collaboration in agricultural sciences and related fields.
• ZTBL (Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU signing ceremony for partnership brokering and agricultural development collaboration with ZTBL for agricultural financing and farming community support.
• Nestle PakistanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial collaboration with Nestle Pakistan for agricultural value chain development and food industry partnerships.
• ICIMOD (International Center for Integrated Mountain Development)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration with ICIMOD for sustainable mountain development research and agricultural initiatives in mountain regions.
• Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, TurkeymoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed for academic cooperation and exchange programs between the two universities.
• PRICE Canada (Naseer Qureshi)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed with founder of PRICE Canada for creating sustainable rural economies through agricultural development initiatives.
• Fatima Jinnah Women UniversitymoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU on traditional and alternative medicine in healthcare collaboration involving Huston-Tillotson University, USA.
• Pharma Manufacturing Association PakistanmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial collaboration with Pharma Manufacturing Association for pharmaceutical agriculture raw materials and quality standards.
• Center of ITmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed with Director General Center of IT for digital transformation and IT infrastructure collaboration.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sindh Agriculture University: Public sector agricultural university in Tandojam, Pakistan. Directly comparable peer offering undergraduate to PhD agriculture programs and applied research in a different agro-climatic zone.
• Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture, Multan: Newer public agricultural university in southern Punjab. Comparable in mission and structure to PMAS-AAUR, serving overlapping student catchment and competing for faculty and grant funding.
• University of Agriculture, Faisalabad: Pakistan's oldest and largest agricultural university. Most direct comparable in mission (agricultural education and research), scale, and Pakistani operating context, though UAF has substantially larger alumni and infrastructure.

Regional players

• Bangladesh Agricultural University: Premier agricultural university in Bangladesh with similar land-grant-style research and extension mandate. Comparable in mission and South Asian agro-climatic context, though not directly competing for students.
• National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan: Top Pakistani public university with engineering and applied sciences programs. Partial peer overlap in agricultural engineering and biotechnology research, and a competitor for postgraduate talent and grant funding.
• COMSATS University Islamabad: Pakistani public university with overlapping STEM and biotechnology programs. Partial peer overlap in IT, management sciences, and biotech disciplines, competing for the same domestic student pool.

Emerging players

• National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Uganda: Public agricultural research organization in East Africa. Comparable as a publicly funded agricultural research entity addressing arid/tropical farming challenges, though focused on R&D rather than degree-granting.

Broad incumbents

• Wageningen University & Research: Globally leading agricultural sciences university. Comparable in research mission (especially in precision agriculture, hydroponics, and arid agriculture) but at a vastly larger scale and global brand recognition.
• Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI): India's premier agricultural research and postgraduate institution under ICAR. Larger, more established peer with deep research infrastructure and international standing in similar agricultural science disciplines.
• University of California, Davis - College of Agriculture: Top-tier U.S. agriculture college with strong precision agriculture and irrigation research programs. Comparable in academic specialization though operating in a vastly different funding and regulatory environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/uaarofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arid-agriculture-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University