GCU reopens Iranian Studies Centre

LAHORE: Government College University (GCU) reopened “Utaq-e-Iran Shenasi” (Centre for Iranian Studies) here Friday which was partially damaged last year in a fire incident.

Khana-e-Farhang Iran, Lahore Director General, Ali Akbar Raziafard and Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah inaugurated the centre after its restoration to the original condition. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Hassan Amir Shah said the centre has some rare Iranian books and Encyclopedias in its rich collection on Persian Language and Literature, and even many foreigners visit this centre every year for research purposes. He said, Utaq-e-Iran Shenasi, established in 2005, was also compiling the first complete Persian to Urdu dictionary under the guidance of eminent poet, writer and researcher Prof Dr Zaheer Ahmad Siddique.

He expressed gratitude to Khana-e-Farhang Iran for their support for the restoration. Meanwhile, the students of the Government College University have donated almost 115 pints of blood for the children suffering from cancer at a one-day blood camp organised by the university's Blood Donor Society (GCU-BDS) in collaboration with the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC). GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah visited the camp and appreciated the efforts of Blood Donor Society members who donate more than 1,500 pints of blood every year for the children suffering from thalassaemia.

Prof Shah advised all the students to donate blood and highlighted the importance of voluntary blood donation in protecting precious human lives. A large number of faculty members and female students also donated blood at the camp. Cleanliness drive: Albayrak Waste Management Company conducted a cleanliness advocacy drive in Jamia Mosque Hanfia Taleem-ul-Islam, Shadbagh Scheme, on Friday.

Officials said the activity was aimed at creating the civic sense of cleanliness among the citizens through Friday sermons. Albayrak team requested the mosque Khateeb to highlight the significance of cleanliness in his Friday sermon and teachings. The mosque administration assured the officials of its support for the cause.

Albayrak established an awareness camp and distributed literature among the residents and pedestrians to seek their cooperation in proper waste management. An awareness walk was also held at the end of the drive. Prior to the awareness drive, the sanitary workers performed cleanup activity in the surroundings of the mosque.