‘HEC has doubled budget for social sciences’

LAHORE: Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmad has said Pakistan is facing problems like terrorism and extremism and to address the problems social scientists can play a vital role.

He said this while addressing an opening session of three-day first international conference “Social Sciences and Humanities in the New Millennium: Challenges and Prospects” jointly organised by Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) and Virtual University (VU).

Dr Mukhtar urged the universities to produce maximum scholars in social sciences as society is facing numerous challenges of the new millennium. He added HEC has increased budget for social science sector by 100 per cent.

VU rector Dr Naveed A Malik said the Virtual University of Pakistan said purpose of the conference was to explore new horizons for Social Sciences and Humanities, understanding their unique perspectives and draw attention to possible challenges of the new millennium. He added the conference would provide an opportunity to renew contacts and discuss problems of mutual interest with delegates from different parts of country and abroad.

The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad, Vice Chancellor University of Sargodha, educationists, a large number of people and scholars of various academic institutions. UoE conference: First National Conference on English Language and Literature (NCELL2017) was held at University of Education (UoE) on Thursday in which more than 50 papers were presented.

Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) Islamabad Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Samina Amin Qadir was the chief guest. In his inaugural speech UoE VC Dr Rauf-i-Azam said the conference was aimed to conceptualise a new vision of inter-disciplinary and inter-genre research within the domain of English literature and provide a discussion forum for researchers to collaborate with each other to develop research culture in Pakistan.

Dr Samina said being the pioneer educational institute, the University of Education could play a leading role to enhance communication skills of teachers by arranging such conferences. She said government should pay attention on training of college teachers as well.

UET course: A four-day executive education course for professionals belonged to various industry organised by the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) concluded here on Thursday. A certificate distribution ceremony was held at the end of the course. UET Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid distributed certificates among the participants.

Milad: Punjab University Centre for Clinical Psychology (CCP) organised a Mehfil-e-Milad here on Thursday.

According to a press release, Director CCP Prof Dr Rukhsana Kausar, faculty members, students and staff attended the ceremony. The participants paid tribute to Holy Prophet (PBUH) with religious fervor. They expressed their affection with Holy Prophet (PBUH) through na’at, speeches, recitations and supplication.