LUDHIANA (Times of India) – Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) will confer the degree of “Doctor of Science” on the Tajikistan president, Emomali Rahmon, who is coming on his fifth visit to the country.

The President of Tajikistan has a very strong relations with the Parsi community of India
President Emomaly Rahmonov declared year 2006 as Year for Revival of Aryan Civilisation. To support this, Zoroastrian College was invited to bring its delegation to Tajikistan, by Madame Maisara Kolonova, President of Tajik Govt. Friendship Society, Anjuman-e Doosti.

The ceremony would take place on September 4. “PAU will hold a special convocation on September 4 to confer the Doctor of Science (honoris causa) upon the president of the Republic of Tajikistan. The chancellor of PAU, Shivraj Patil, who is also the governor of Punjab, will preside over this function,”" PAU’s additional director of communication centre, Jagtar Dhiman, told TOI.

PAU registrar R K Mahey said: “The Tajikistan president is coming on a state visit and we have got a communication from the Union ministry of external affairs in this regard. They have asked us to honour him as India and Tajikistan have enjoyed good relations for many years.”

Besides, Rahmon also has a deep interest in agriculture and PAU officials feel it could be a new beginning of long-term ties between the varsity and Tajikistan. “Punjab and Tajikistan share many commonalities in the field of agriculture. Just like Punjab, the main crop there are wheat and cotton. We are expecting a bright future,” said Mahey.