Dr. Ashraf Choudhary made history in becoming the first-ever elected Pakistani and Muslim MP in New Zealand Parliament in 2002.
Dr. Choudhary was, until November 2008, the sole lawmaker representing people of South Asian origin, including those from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepale, and migrants from the Middle East. As a Member of Parliament for nine years, he shouldered the responsibilities of representing the views and opinions of the fastest growing segment of this NZ population.
During his parliamentary term he took many new initiatives previously unknown in NZ.
He made history by first time ever taking the Oath on the Quran in the Parliament, despite much criticism by non-Muslims at the time.
During his parliament term, he setup for the first time the Pakistan/New Zealand Parliamentarian Friendship Group as well as the NZ/Turkish Parliamentarian Friendship Group within the Parliament.
He started the celebration of Eid Ul fitr (and Diwali) in Parliament; a tradition which carries on to date and hopefully forever.
It was Dr Choudhary’s sole efforts that brought the first ever Head of state of Pakistan the then President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, to New Zealand, on an official visit in June 2005.
This visit resulted in bringing to NZ over 150 PhD students from Pakistan, the first time ever establishment of Pakistan High Commission in Wellington, and much help from NZ to Pakistan Dairy industry establishment.
Dr Ashraf is a pioneer of many organisations. He established the Federation of Islamic Association of NZ (FIANZ) 32 years ago and later became its President. He was also the President of the Multiethnic Council of New Zealand; A National organisation representing all NZ ethnic communities.
During his early years in NZ, He helped establish many Mosques and Islamic centres. He established the Masjid at the Massey University Campus in Palmerston North in 1996; the first and only proper Mosque at a NZ University campus.
Dr Choudhary established the Pakistan-New Zealand Friendship Association Inc (PAKNZ) in 1995.
Dr. Ashraf Choudhary is professionally an agricultural engineering specialist. He is an international authority on zero or conservation tillage technology.
During his 26 years career as Assoc. Professor at Massey University before joining Parliament, Dr Choudhary developed the zero tillage equipment which he later popularised in Pakistan. Thousands of such drills are now produced in Daska and other cities in Pakistan and used by farmer to sow wheat crop in rice stubbles without prior tillage. To date this technology has saved millions of dollars in diesel fuel alone for Pakistan and increased wheat yield and farmer income.
During his career at Massey University, Dr Choudhary sponsored and gave postgraduate scholarships to many Pakistani students many of whom are now working in Pakistan and abroad.
During his Parliamentary career and before Dr Choudhary always took pride in interacting and bridge-building with wider ethnic communities. This brought much recognition by others for his contributions. For example Dr Choudhary is currently the Patron of Many organisations which include:
Council of Christians and Muslims in Auckland
Bharatiya Samaj Trust
Multicultural Council of Manawatu
Chairman of the Advisory Board of Turkish Community (Pearl of Island Foundation)
It is fascinating to observe that after his retirement from Parliament, Dr Choudhary’s services have been formally recognised and honoured by many other ethnic communities throughout New Zealand . These include the Maori community, Sri Lankan, Indians, Sikh community and the Turkish community.
As a recognition of his contributions to both conservation tillage and community work he was honoured with Companion of the Queen Service Order (QSO) by the New Zealand Queen in 1998. He was also appointed as Justice of the Peace (JP) in 1996.
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A seed drill, which can sow wheat in paddy fields, was earlier developed at Massey University, New Zealand. The seed drill referred to as "zero tillage drill" was fabricated in Pakistan with assistance from New Zealand experts in collaboration with Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Islamabad.
Initial research experiments with conservation tillage technology were carried out by PARC in mid 1980's. These proved quite successful, but because of lack of funding and other resources, its wide scale replication could not be promoted. Limited field trials for wheat establishment with this technique were undertaken in the rice growing areas ofOECF/Japan assisted OFWM-III Project in Gujranwala/Gujrat region in the Punjab and Larkana/Shikarpur districts in Sindh in 1996. Five drills were procured under the project for the purpose. Results of these trials indicated that conservation tillage method of planting wheat resulted in 28% higher yields compared to those with conventional method. In addition, a saving of about Rs.750/acre was noted in production costs as a result of no land preparations.
Zero Tillage technology was demonstrated on large area in rice-wheat system of Punjab during Rabi 1997 and 10 zero tillage drills were arranged for the purpose. Under OECF/Japan assisted OFWM Program 10 Field Teams were organized to drill about 1,000 acres in Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, and Mandi Bahaudin districts. The OFWM staff provided drills, technical know-how, and training free of charge to the farmers. Where farmer did not own tractors, the Field Teams provided drill and tractor with a charge of Rs. 100 per acre.
Prior to the planting of wheat crop, training sessions for the OFWM staff and farmers were arranged at Area Team level. In these sessions, the problems of low wheat yield particularly late planting after rice were highlighted. The need for zero tillage drill, its handling (calibration for seed and fertilizer), and actual operation in the field were demonstrated to each team.
Follow up activities were also arranged to carry out the operation smoothly and adoption of other agronomic practices, particularly application ofweedicides etc. A brochure on zero tillage wheat production technology was prepared in English as well as Urdu and was distributed among field staff and farmers.
In November, 1997 at the request of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Islamabad, Government of New Zealand financed the services of an expert from Massey University for providing training and technical assistance related to the use of conservation tillage technology in wheat farming. This helped launching a campaign for promotion of "Participatory Resource Conservation Technology for Wheat Production" through introduction of conservation tillage technology in rice growing areas.
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