On January 6, 2020 new Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZs) of  Punjab were launched by The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. A team of scientists from the Universities, in collaboration with FAO and Agriculture Department of the  Government of Punjab worked together to delineate the Agro- Climatic, Agro-Ecological and Agr-Economic Zones (AEZ) to replace the obsolete zoning  in Punjab. Previously, AEZs were developed by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) in 1980, but due to rapid changes in land, water resources and changing climate, there was dire need to re-define the AEZs. 

The launching ceremony of AEZs was organized at Lahore by FAO, in which researchers, contributing authors, Minister for Agriculture, Director Generals (DGs) Research, Water Management, Planning and Universities professors participated. Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, Assistant Professor, CCRD, COMSATS University Islamabad was one of contributing authors for the AEZs development hence was awarded with special souvenir by FAO.