(Tando Jam, January 21, 2026) A thought-provoking seminar titled “Bridging Minds and Machines: Transforming Education through Technology” was held at Dr. A.M. Sheikh Auditorium, Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tando Jam, under the popular lecture series “Empowering Minds for a Digital Future.” The event was organized as part of SAU’s Student-Teacher Engagement Program (STEP) in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad.
The seminar was presided over by Prof. Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal, Vice Chancellor, SAU, while the keynote address was delivered by Mr. Amar Fayaz Buriro, Director of the Abdul Majid Bhurgri Institute of Language Engineering (AMBILE), Hyderabad, and a noted social activist.
In his keynote address, Mr. Buriro highlighted the deep historical roots of agriculture in the Indus region, explaining that the word “Agro” is derived from the ancient Sindhi term “Aagro (آڳڙو)”, meaning threshing of grains. He stated that Sindh had historically guided humanity from a primitive lifestyle to an agricultural civilization, a transformation he attributed to the pivotal role of women in early agrarian societies.
The word “Agro” is derived from the ancient Sindhi term “Aagro (آڳڙو)”, meaning threshing of grains. (Buriro said)
Reflecting on the future, Mr. Buriro cautioned that by 2075 humans could evolve into “cyborgs”; half-machine beings with even body organs replaced by mechanical components. He emphasized that in the rapidly evolving digital age, education must move beyond the mere transfer of information and instead focus on empowering minds with critical, ethical, and creative thinking skills. He stressed that artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies should not be viewed as replacements for teachers or learners, but as enablers that amplify human intelligence when guided by purpose and values.
He further stated that true transformation in education occurs when digital tools are integrated with experiential learning connecting classrooms to fields, research to real-world problems, and innovation to societal needs. This integration, he noted, is particularly vital in agriculture, where future professionals must combine scientific knowledge with data-driven technologies such as precision farming, climate analytics, and smart irrigation systems. Emphasizing the importance of local context, he remarked that technology without indigenous knowledge and local languages remains ineffective, citing the proposed Sindhi farmers’ mobile application as an example of technology traveling from the laboratory to the land.
Presiding over the seminar, Prof. Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal observed that while modern technology offers enormous benefits, its potential risks must also be clearly understood. He remarked that agriculture must remain a top priority under all circumstances, stating, “Even if humans reach the moon, they will still need food.” He urged young people to value indigenous agricultural data and knowledge systems instead of relying entirely on artificial intelligence, adding that technology should serve as an assistant to humans, not a replacement.
Prof. Dr. Siyal formally announced SAU’s collaboration with AMBILE to jointly develop a farmer-centric mobile application, describing it as a major step towards digital agriculture in Sindh. He noted that while modern computers and software now complete tasks in minutes that once took years, Generation Z must not abandon social wisdom and emotional intelligence, warning that life could otherwise become mechanically efficient but emotionally hollow.
Prof. Dr. Siyal formally announced SAU’s collaboration with AMBILE to jointly develop a farmer-centric mobile application, describing it as a major step towards digital agriculture in Sindh.
Participants at the seminar announced that SAU and AMBILE had agreed to collaboratively develop a farmer-friendly mobile application based on agricultural data. The application aims to provide growers with timely and reliable information on crops, weather conditions, irrigation practices, plant diseases, market prices, and modern farming techniques.
Earlier, STEP Chairman Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar stated that the university seeks to align its students with global technological changes while safeguarding creative thinking and independent decision-making skills. He cautioned that excessive dependence on artificial intelligence and neglect of indigenous knowledge could weaken analytical ability and creativity among future generations.
The seminar was attended by Senior Vice President of Sindh Abadgar Board Syed Nadeem Shah, SAU alumnus from Canada Dr. Zahid Malik, Director ITC Dr. Mir Sajjad Talpur, Dr. Ghulam Mujtaba Khushik, Jalil Ahmed Ibupoto, faculty members, researchers, and a large number of students, who actively participated in the discussion.