Scientists from Punjab University (PU) and China’s Wuhan University have developed a new hybrid rice seed, PU786, capable of increasing per-acre yields from 1,600 kg to an impressive 5,600 kg.

Announced on August 4, 2025, this breakthrough, the result of a decade-long collaboration, marks Pakistan’s first Honglian-type hybrid rice variety.

Led by Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq, Chairman of PU’s Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, and Dr. Muhammad Ali Klasra, alongside Wuhan University’s Professor Renshan Zhu and Dr. Xianting Wu, the research team successfully tested PU786 across cities in all four provinces of Pakistan.

The seed, registered as PU786, delivers up to 140 maunds per acre—nearly three times the yield of traditional varieties.

Its resilience against bacterial diseases, extreme heat, and pests makes it uniquely suited to Pakistan’s challenging climate, where floods, high temperatures, and insect attacks often threaten crops.

Approved by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), PU786 promises to revolutionize rice farming, enhance food security, and strengthen the Pak-China agricultural partnership.