ISLAMABAD: Abdul Rehman, a 30-year-old researcher from Balochistan\u2019s Loralai district, is pioneering cutting-edge Plant Developmental Biology research at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), aiming to equip his drought-stricken homeland with scientific solutions to combat climate change, Gwadar Pro reported on Friday. \u201cI have witnessed crops fail year after year due to temperature fluctuations and water scarcity. That pain pushed me into this field,\u201d said the Ph.D. candidate, whose research focuses on decoding how agricultural crops withstand environmental stresses including drought, temperature extremes, and diseases. Rehman\u2019s research could help farmers in Balochistan\u2013where 80 percent of the population relies on rain-fed agriculture\u2013to cultivate resilient varieties. China\u2019s world-class laboratories make Rehman\u2019s dream possible. \u201cSJTU is among the top universities globally. The facilities here let us do advanced research you won\u2019t find in Pakistan,\u201d he explained, noting China\u2019s heavy investment in scientific innovation. \u201cThey fund labs that generate groundbreaking ideas. DNA
\nAs scholarship students, we access these opportunities to push boundaries.\u201d
\nBeyond academics, cultural bridges have eased Abdul Rehman\u2019s journey. \u201cAt international festivals, I\u2019ve shared Pakistani food and culture to international classmates while learning Mandarin and Chinese traditions,\u201d he said. Though homesickness lingers, the vibrant multicultural campus\u2014and halal food options\u2014make Shanghai feel welcoming.
\nHis ambition burns brighter than nostalgia. After completing postdoctoral studies, he plans to return to Loralai. \u201cI\u2019ll train farmers and advise policymakers on the use of genetically modified crops that are tolerant to climate shocks,\u201d he said, recalling how almond, apple, and other fruit crop yields in his village have plummeted.
\n\u201cBalochistan\u2019s youth possess remarkable potential, yet limited opportunities constrain their growth,\u201d Rehman noted. \u201cI hope to see more youth here\u2013studying in China can transform destiny.\u201d For now, collaborations with various Chinese labs and workshops have sharpened his skills. \u201cResearchers here freely share knowledge.
\nThese techniques will one day help Balochistan\u2019s fields thrive again,\u201d Rehman said, embodying a quiet determination to turn scientific privilege into homegrown hope.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD: Abdul Rehman, a 30-year-old researcher from Balochistan\u2019s Loralai district, is pioneering cutting-edge Plant Developmental Biology research at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), aiming to equip his drought-stricken homeland with scientific solutions to combat climate change, Gwadar Pro reported on Friday. \u201cI have witnessed crops fail year after year due to temperature fluctuations and water […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-477417","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n