UAF Scientist Dr. Haroon Rashid Wins Prime Minister’s Youth Excellence Award

FAISALABAD: Dr. Muhammad Haroon Rashid, Assistant Professor at the Department of Forestry & Range Management, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), has been honoured with the Youth Excellence Award by the Prime Minister of Pakistan on the occasion of Youth Day.
He received the award from Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at a ceremony held at Jinnah Convention Center, Islamabad. Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, was also present.
The award recognizes Dr. Haroon’s outstanding contributions to forest ecology, sustainable land use, and carbon sequestration, along with his internationally acclaimed research on innovative agroforestry systems and biodiversity conservation. His achievements include securing international fellowships in Germany, the USA, and China; pioneering Pakistan’s first scientific project on bamboo-based carbon sequestration; and mobilizing youth for environmental entrepreneurship under the Green Youth Movement.

Earlier, he was conferred with the Digital Green Talent Award by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research for his work in environmental sustainability.
Dr. Haroon, who holds a PhD in Forest Ecology, has worked on the USDA-funded Trees Outside Forests project at Michigan State University, focusing on expanding green cover beyond traditional forest areas. Currently, he is researching the carbon sequestration potential of bamboo as part of nature-based climate solutions. As Focal Person of the Green Youth Movement Club at UAF, he actively engages students in climate action, plantation drives, and environmental innovation, fostering a culture of sustainability among the youth.