GCU syndicate appoints two new members of selection board

LAHORE :The 62nd meeting of the Syndicate of Government College University (GCU) was held here on Wednesday which besides appointing two new members of the university’s selection board also reconstituted the promotion committee for the GCU employees from BS-1 to BS-17.

The syndicate also discussed matters related to immediate provision of residence to the recently-appointed GCU vice-chancellor. VC Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi briefed the members about his initiatives and vision for the development of the historical education institute.

Prof Zaidi took the syndicate into confidence regarding the development work on new campus at Kala Shah Kaku (KSK), advertisement regarding six research chairs, appointment of new heads of departments, including the first ever GCU female head of department of Urdu, and formation of committee probing alleged foreign faculty hiring scam at the Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences.

He welcomed the new members of the syndicate, Home Economics University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Kanwal Ameen, GCU Dean Prof Dr Ahmed Adnan and Prof Dr Hamid Mukhtar.

Professor Sajda Vandal, eminent old Ravian and former test cricketer Shafqat Rana, MPA Hina Jallni, Qazi Fareed Humayun, GCU Registrar Dr Shaukat Ali and other members of the syndicate attended the meeting and appreciated smooth functioning of the first syndicate meeting with the new VC. The representatives of the Higher Education Department, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Law also attended the meeting. GCU legal adviser Awais Malik, Treasurer Abid Shahzad and Controller Examinations Shahzad Ahmad attended the meeting as observers.

Chinese New Year: Government College University’s Center of Excellence, China Studies (CECS) organised a ceremony to celebrate Chinese New Year which was followed by an on-campus solidarity walk titled “fight out coronavirus, we stand by China.” A good number of Chinese living in Lahore also participated in the walk from the Centre of Excellence, China Studies to Vice Chancellor’s office.

GCU faculty members and students along with the Chinese community planted a sapling on the university’s campus in the memory of those who lost their lives due to coronavirus.

Earlier, the day-long event was marked by Chinese musical and cultural festivities which included eating competition with chopsticks and Chinese calligraphy. In his message to the Chinese community, GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi said China was a time-tested and trusted friend of Pakistan and both countries always supported each other in every aspect of relations. He said Pakistani people stood by their Chinese brothers and sisters in this difficult time and appreciate the Chinese government’s untiring efforts to bring coronavirus under control. He greeted Chinese teachers and businessmen attending the ceremony on their New Year. Speaking on the occasion, Faculty of Social Sciences Dean Prof Dr Khalid Butt said celebrating and observing other cultures helped them understand their own. He said China had not only contributed immensely to economic progress of Pakistan but had also helped strengthen its defense capabilities.