LAHORE:The Government College University (GCU) Lahore has joined the province-wide vehicle emissions testing campaign led by the Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA), offering free on-campus carbon monoxide (CO) testing for students, faculty, and staff. Vehicles under the university’s use were also tested and certified.
The initiative, organised in collaboration with GCU’s Sustainable Development Study Centre (SDSC) and the Punjab EPA, aligns with broader provincial efforts to curb air pollution and promote environmental compliance.
GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr M Omer Chaudhry stated that the campaign reflects Pakistan’s commitment to adopting environmental practices in line with international standards. Under the campaign, vehicles are tested for CO emissions, with those recording levels below 6 percent classified as compliant and issued green ‘fit’ stickers. Vehicles that do not meet the standard are advised to undergo maintenance and are given a seven-day window for re-inspection.
Prof Dr Faiza Sharif, Director SDSC, emphasised that vehicular emissions are a major contributor to smog and such preventive measures are essential for environmental improvement. Inspector Tayyaba Abdul Sattar from the EPA added that the campaign is part of a larger effort to regulate emissions and promote public health through cleaner air.
BD varsities VCs delegation visits GCU
An academic delegation comprising vice chancellors from various public and private sector universities of Bangladesh visited Government College University (GCU) Lahore under a youth-and education-focused initiative of COMSTECH, the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation.
GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Omer Chaudhry received the delegation and briefed them on the historic legacy and academic landscape of the varsity.
During the visit, MoUs were signed between the GCU Lahore and four Bangladeshi universities to promote faculty and student exchange programmes, joint research initiatives, and broader academic cooperation.
On the occasion, the GCU VC emphasised the importance of academic collaboration among South Asian institutions to address regional challenges. He reiterated GCU’s commitment to fostering partnerships in research, academic events, and cultural exchanges, highlighting the university's vision of strengthening ties between the two countries.
Prof Dr Abdul Hannan Chaudhry, a senior representative of Bangladeshi private universities, expressed his admiration for the academic and cultural heritage of GCU Lahore. ‘This is the university where Nobel Laureate Prof Dr Abdus Salam studied and where the great poet-philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal was once a student. Today, we had the privilege of visiting Iqbal’s room,” he said.
Representatives of Bangladesh Open University, North South University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Daffodil International University, University of Asia Pacific, International Islamic University Chittagong and other varsities were included in the delegation.
