LAHORE: Acting President Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani held a significant meeting with vice chancellors of universities in Lahore, focusing on higher education, academic excellence, and institutional development.
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According to Pakistan Peoples Party, the meeting included Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali of the University of the Punjab, Prof. Dr. Arshad Ali of Multan University of Science and Technology, and Prof. Dr. Masood Rabbani of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore. The Acting President emphasized the role of universities in driving intellectual growth and innovation, urging them to prioritize research, critical thinking, and skills development.
The vice chancellors discussed curriculum modernization, faculty development, research funding, and industry-academia linkages. They called for increased collaboration among universities and partnerships with public and private sectors to enhance employability and innovation. Mr. Gilani highlighted the need to align academic programs with market needs, encouraging universities to tackle socio-economic challenges and promote entrepreneurship.
He reiterated the government’s support for higher education institutions to achieve excellence and international competitiveness, calling for efforts to improve quality assurance, expand educational access, and use technology to boost learning outcomes. The meeting concluded with a commitment to strengthen the higher education sector and work towards a knowledge-based economy in Pakistan.