The University of Okara (UO) has entered into pacts with the Government Sadiq College Women University Bahawalpur (GSCWU), the University of Poonch Rawalakot (UPR) and Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CUVAS), Bahawalpur for academic and research collaborations regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).  The UO Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Muhammad Wajid and the VC, UPR, Prof Dr Muhammad Zakria Zakar, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Under this pact, the two universities will hold joint international conferences, seminars and webinars on various areas of pure and social sciences.

In MoU, Prof Wajid and the VC, GSCWU, Prof Dr Saiqa Imtiaz, agreed to initiate sports events and coaching programs for the female students of the two varsities. They also decided to collaborate in other areas including literature and science. Moreover, the two VCs announced to conduct joint research on the mitigation of the effects of desertification and on various medicinal plants. The faculty and students of both the institutions will be able to access each other's laboratories and other facilities. Co-supervision of the students' dissertations is also part of this agreement.

In another MoU with the CUVAS, it was decided that an extensive research would be conducted on the desert animals.  "Biodiversity is decreasing rapidly and we will jointly carve out a comprehensive policy on this", the two VCs agreed.  In the MoU, that was signed with the CUVAS Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Muhammad Sajjad Khan, it was agreed that both the universities would conduct research on the biology of various animals as there was available no credible information in this area. According to Prof Wajid, these pacts will help the partner institutions to work for the achievement of the SGDs, as envisioned by the United Nations.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP