Punjab, six varsities sign MoUs on development

LAHORE

Punjab Planning and Development Department has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with six public sector universities for provision of technical support, expertise and services of highly qualified and experienced professionals, researchers, teachers of public sector universities to facilitate development process.

The MOUs were signed here on Friday at Punjab Planning and Development Complex.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Punjab Planning and Development Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo said that the purpose altogether of signing the MoUs was to convert research into practical application by filling the gap between academia and policy-makers, in order to finally create knowledge-based economy and promote evidence based policy-making approach instead of presumptive policy-making approach. He said there was no doubt that policy formulation backed by innovative research led to sustainable development and sustainable development at effective exchequer cost was the goal the P&D was seeking to achieve and academia contribution in this national purpose would be most critical and appreciating.

In the ceremony, Director General monitoring and evaluation Dr Sajjad Mubin welcomed all the VCs of public sector universities to attend the Memoranda of Understanding signing ceremony.

Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran said that it was a very good idea and appreciating step by the Punjab Planning and Development Department and would surely help in bridging the gap between academia and the government.

University of Engineering and Technology Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid expressed that universities were already engaged at different levels with federal government but this initiative would provide the lead to research institutions to get involved at very elementary level of planning rather only at conclusive level when opportunities of corrections remain very bleak and not very cost effective.

University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha said it was a win-win situation at both ends while the students would also get first-hand knowledge of development process and activities.

Agriculture University, Faisalabad Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan commented that knowledge corridors of 5,000 PhDs in the current year and 20,000 PhDs in years to come would be able to deliver through this initiative.

He said that it would be the first of its kind hallmark to involve research institutions in consultancy, policy formulation and impact assessment.

Prof Dr Saqib (Representative, University of Health Sciences) ensured full support in improving the public policies regarding health sector. Government College University, Lahore Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah appreciated the concept of Planning & Development Department to link the academia and public policy-makers.

MoU: University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore and Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) signed an MoU to promote training exchange, workshops, research collaboration in the areas of mutual interest. Professor Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid, Vice-Chancellor UET, Lahore and Dr Ghulam Rasul, Director General PMD signed the document on Friday.