Sargodha: The University of Sargodha has entered into a strategic partnership with the Association for Biorisk Management (ABM), Pakistan, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at bolstering laboratory biosafety and biosecurity protocols.

The collaboration will see both institutions working together to improve laboratory safety measures. This will be achieved through technical support, thorough biorisk assessments, and the implementation of capacity-building training programs. Additionally, the development and enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be a focal point of this partnership. Support for essential laboratory equipment and reagents is also included in the agreement.

The primary goal of this partnership is to enhance the University of Sargodha's ability to manage biological and zoonotic risks effectively. It also seeks to foster a robust culture of biosafety and biosecurity while ensuring that laboratory operations meet internationally recognized safety standards.

As part of the agreement, the University of Sargodha is committed to engaging its faculty and staff actively. It will also implement the recommended risk mitigation measures and either establish or activate an Institutional Biosafety Committee.

This initiative underscores the University of Sargodha's dedication to research excellence and the One Health approach. It also reflects the university's commitment to adopting global best practices in laboratory safety.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Sargodha, Prof. Dr. Qaisar Abbas. The agreement was formalized by the Executive Director of ABM Pakistan, Dr. Asghar Ali, and the Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Center for One Health at the University of Sargodha, Prof. Dr. Zafar Hayat. Also present at the ceremony were Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Masood Sarwar Awan and Director ORIC, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Raza Bilal.