Category: Education

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Kashmir: The Way Forward 

Islamabad, March 01, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Kashmir conflict is ingrained with numerous constraints and complexities, and it only continues to get more and more compounded as time passes. The conflict demands the international community’s attention and arbitration to be resolved for the sake of the millions of lives of the region’s inhabitants, and the peace the people of Pakistan and India deserve to progress for the future.

These views were expressed by Victoria Schofield, an eminent British historian, author, scholar and biographer with a particular interest in South Asia and Kashmir conflict, during an exclusive talk held at IPS on the topic of ‘Kashmir: The Way Forward’ on February 26, 2022.

Schofield, who has visited both sides of the disputed territory many times and had opportunities to interview locals from both sides to ascertain their opinion regarding the whole situation, lamented that the people in the Indian occupied territory were still living traumatic lives, there were a number of civilian deaths and arrests every day, and armed soldiers roam the streets.

The speaker termed the whole situation a grave humanitarian crisis that needs the urgent attention of the world community, pressing that these human rights violations in IOJK need to be documented and reach the right places on a consistent basis. Schofield also reminded that the Simla Agreement does not bind Pakistan and India to resolve the Kashmir conflict only through ‘bilateral means’.

She said, the Agreement states that both the countries will try to resolve the issue bilaterally or through any other mutually agreed means. She stressed that this latter clause in the agreement needs to be highlighted to seek international mediation over the issue, which is critical as India’s hubris has continued to obstruct an amicable and bilateral resolution to the pain and suffering of the people of Kashmir.

She further opined that the resolution of this over 75-year-old issue needs to involve multiple stakeholders, including China because of its claim to Aksai Chin and Trans Karakoram Tract. She was of the view that the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the Gilgit-Baltistan region, the Indian-Occupied Jammu, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region may not necessarily have a similar opinion over the matter.

The session presided over by the IPS’ Vice Chairman Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain, was also joined by Ambassador (r) Ishtiaq Hussain Andrabi, Brigadier (r) Said Nazir Mohmand, Farzana Yaqoob, former AJK minister and secretary, IPS-Working Group on Kashmir, Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, former federal secretary, and Advocate Nasir Qadri, founder, Legal Forum for the Oppressed Voices of Kashmir (LFOVK), among others.

Several young activists hailing from the Indian-occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir, including Dr Mujahid Gilani, and Ahmed bin Qasim, the son of long detained Kashmiri leaders Qasim Faktoo and Asiya Andrabi, also participated in the discussion after the talk.

The Kashmiri youth partaking in a session also voiced their opinion, stating that the ongoing human rights violations in Kashmir were just the symptoms emerging from the disease of illegal occupation. Its status quo was being protected by the Indian government, bureaucracy, military, and legal institutions together.

In his closing remarks, Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain stated that Pakistan has always tried to seek a resolution to this issue both through dialogue and in the form of international mediation on a number of occasions. India however remains adamant in its unilateral stance, he added. He reiterated that Kashmiris are the principal party to the international conflict, and no resolution would be achievable without empowering them with their right of self-determination.

For more information, contact:
Outreach and Publications,
Institute of Policy Studies (IPS)
1, Street 8, F-6/3, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-8438391-3 (Ext: 122)
Fax: +92-51-8438390
Website: www.ips.org.pk

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MoU Signing ceremony between Virtual University and Pakistan Boy Scouts Association 

Lahore, March 01, 2022 (PPI-OT):Virtual University of Pakistan (VUP) and Pakistan Boy Scouts Association (PBSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote peace and solidarity among youth in general and specifically among Virtual University’s students. Moreover, both organizations will work together with various approaches for personality development, career counselling and team building across the country through VUP’s ICT based system and PBSA’s outdoor education model.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Dr. Arshad Saleem Bhatti, Rector, Virtual University of Pakistan and Mr. Sarfaraz Qamar Daha, Chief Commissioner, PBSA at National Headquarters of PBSA, Islamabad Pakistan. In a vote of thanks, Chief Commissioner, PBSA appreciated the Virtual University of Pakistan for extending opportunity to PBSA for commitment of conducting outdoor activities for their students’ through PBSA Center. He expresses his gratitude that VU is doing their part in nation building by providing quality education through modern information and communication technologies at a very affordable fee even to the farthest areas of Pakistan.

Prof. Dr. Arshad Saleem Bhatti, Rector, VU, in his short address thanked Chief Commissioner, PBSA and their team for providing VU the opportunity to explore their expertise in outdoor education. He said Virtual University has experience of almost 20 years in serving nation for ICT based education throughout the country and overseas simultaneously.

He further assured that, the VU’s education, examination and testing system is fully conversant and tuned to handle such tasks and is fully transparent at every step. PBSA joining hands with VUP is a step forward to the ICT’s based students’ an opportunity to explore outdoor and personality development activities. This will enable Virtual University students to participate in various activities organized by PBSA nationally and internationally. Many high-level officials from both institutions attended the ceremony.

For more information, contact:
Virtual University of Pakistan (VU)
M.A. Jinnah Campus, Defence Road, Off Raiwind Road,
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-880-880
Fax: +92-42-99200604, +92-42-99202174
Website: www.vu.edu.pk

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Honorary Dean, SDSB, Dr. Alnoor Bhimani Awarded 2021 British Accounting and Finance Association Lifetime Achievement Award 

Lahore, March 01, 2022 (PPI-OT):Dr. Alnoor Bhimani, Honorary Dean, Suleman Dawood School of Business (SDSB) at LUMS, has been awarded the 2021 British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA) Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his significant contributions to UK’s academic accounting and finance landscape through his research and teaching. The Award will be presented at the Annual Dinner during the 2022 Annual Conference to be held at Nottingham University.

Commenting on the award, he said, “The Lifetime Achievement Award from the BAFA recognises my academic contributions to date. But I expect my work as a scholar interested in management practices and social impact will continue!”

An advocate for quality education and innovation, an accomplished scholar and a dedicated teacher, Dr. Bhimani is also the Founding Director of ‘LSE Entrepreneurship’ at the London School of Economics (LSE). He has headed the Department of Accounting at LSE during his 30 years’ service at the institution. In addition to this, he has authored over 100 publications including bestselling books in financial management, technology and digitisation and is connected with tech-entrepreneurs and sits on business school Advisory Boards in Africa, America, Europe and Asia.

Talking about his role and contributions to UK’s academic accounting and finance landscape through his research and teaching, Dr. Bhimani said, “My research in accounting has opened two areas. The first is comparative management accounting research which provides methodological approaches for cross-national management control investigations and has led to a wider understanding of the roots, causes and implications of accounting differences across countries. The second relates to the relationships between societal, economic, and technological changes and accounting and financial management practices.

In terms of teaching contributions, I have published the most widely used management accounting textbook in Europe: Management and Cost Accounting (Pearson, 2019) (with Srikant Datar, Dean of Harvard Business School and Madav Rajan, Dean of Chicago Business School)”.

This Award comes with a strong impact on LUMS, SDSB and Pakistan’s academic landscape. Much of Dr. Bhimani’s scholarly research translates into steps management researchers at LUMS and in Pakistan and internationally, can adopt in their academic work dealing with comparative investigations. Additionally, “My research also impacts practices in relation to finance functions in enterprises adopting modern digital technologies, as well as in respect of entrepreneurship, governance issues and societal change,” explain Dr. Bhimani.

The two books that he has written recently dealing with practice, include, Financial Management for Technology Start-ups (Kogan Page, 2022) and Accounting Disrupted: How digitalization is changing finance (Wiley/AICPA, 2021).

For more information, contact:
Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
D.H.A. Lahore Cantt. 54792
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-35608000
Fax: +92-42-35725048
Website: www.lums.edu.pk

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President addresses Annual Get-Together at Faculty of Languages and Literature 

Islamabad, March 01, 2022 (PPI-OT):H.E. Dr. Hathal Homoud Alotaibi, President International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), Tuesday, addressed the annual get-together at the Faculty of Languages and Literature (FLL) where he shared his plans and vision for the university. On the occasion, President, IIUI expressed his delight on meeting the faculty and stated that the university is a home to all and that the FLL ought to launch interesting new programs in line with the university’s Strategic Plan. He added that his team of Vice Presidents and Deans was there to ensure that the university grows exponentially and numerous projects have been set in place for this reason.

Dr. Hathal emphasized that with the shift towards technology, the IIUI’s ODL program remains a vital tool for disseminating education far and wide and expressed his desire for the FLL to initiate degree programs via the ODL particularly since the HEC has also disseminated its distance education policy. He also emphasized that improvements have been made as regards promotion policies and assured that the departments will be granted more freedom to initiate innovative programs that are in line with the needs of the future. IIU President ensured all-out support for the academic and professional growth of all the faculties of the university. Earlier, on his arrival, President IIU was welcomed by the Dean FLL Prof. Dr. Najeeba Arif and the Chairpersons of the Departments of English, Urdu, Persian and CLT.

In her welcome address, Dr. Najeeba Arif expressed her gratitude to the President and highlighted that this event aims to bring into focus the services of the faculty members and the administrative staff who are extremely essential to running the faculty smoothly. In the introduction to the event, Dr. Aroosa Kanwal, In-Charge Department of English, apprised the President of the various awards and accolades earned by the faculty members of the FLL while emphasizing the fact that it has attracted a record number of new admissions in recent years, despite covid-related constraints.

Later, The President, Vice President Academics Prof. Dr. Ayyaz Afsar, Vice President Research and Enterprise, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Shuja and Vice President Administration and Finance Prof. Dr. N.B. Jumani distributed shields among the administrative staff members who had earned the Best Employee of the Year award. The award winners included Mr. Mahmood Iqbal, Mr. Muhammad Ishaq Khan, Ms. Asma Nazir, Ms. Farah Riaz, Mr. Ali Asghar, Ms. Nazli Masood and Mr. Yasir Ali.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations,
International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI)
Room No.118, Admin Block, New Campus,
H-10 Sector, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9019249
Fax: +92-51-9257909
Email: iiuipublicrelations@iiu.edu.pk
Website: www.iiu.edu.pk

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Book Launch Ceremony held at IIUI 

Islamabad, March 01, 2022 (PPI-OT):Department of Law of the Faculty of Shariah and Law (FSL) of International Islamic University (IIU) organized a launching ceremony of book on “Arbitration Law of Pakistan” by Dr. Ikram Ullah, Assistant Professor of Law Department. On the occasion Honourable Mr. Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Judge Islamabad High Court and Honourable Mr. Justice Jawad Hassan, Judge Lahore High Court graced the book launch ceremony.

Addressing the participants Justice Miangul Hassan explained about the arbitration law, its significance for Pakistan and the way it can be improved. Justice Jawad Hassan emphasized on the need to establish an arbitration center in International Islamic University Islamabad.

The book launching ceremony was also attended by Prof. Dr. Ayaz Afsar, Vice President (Academics), Dr. Ataullah Faizi, Dean, Faculty of Shariah and Law, IIUI, Male and female Senior Professors of Shariah and Law Faculty, faculty members, renowned personalities of the legal fraternity and a large number of law students from Faculty of Shariah and Law of the university.

At the end of session, the honourable Judges answered the questions from the participants on the subject of arbitration law. They congratulated Dr. Ikram Ullah on achieving this milestone with an important contribution for law practitioners and students of law through this book. They opined that appropriate and up-to-date teaching material to train future legal scholars and practitioners of Law in Pakistan is the need of hour.

In the end, Prof. Dr. Ayaz Afsar, Vice President (Academic), IIUI presented shields and gift of books to the honourable judges. Later they also visited the picture gallery of Islamic Research Institute (IRI) at old campus of the university.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations,
International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI)
Room No.118, Admin Block, New Campus,
H-10 Sector, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9019249
Fax: +92-51-9257909
Email: iiuipublicrelations@iiu.edu.pk
Website: www.iiu.edu.pk

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Art exhibition highlighting social issues opens at GCU 

Lahore, March 01, 2022 (PPI-OT):An intercollegiate art exhibition highlighting social issues opened here at the Government College University Lahore on Tuesday. Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Asghar Zaidi inaugurated the exhibition titled “Grand Art Exhibition” where students from GCU Lahore, Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) and Kinnaird College put on display wide range of artworks ranging from pencil sketches to oil paintings and photography to digital artwork.

Speaking on the occasion, the Vice Chancellor said art is a very effective tool to reflect on social issues and translating history into story. He said students of three universities had put on display their artworks thus creating an opportunity to learn from each other.

He appreciated that male students who had made paintings and digital artwork representing the struggle and hard work of a women in the society. The Vice Chancellor said the young artists in Pakistan have immense talent what they just are guidance and support from parents, teachers and educational institutions. The art exhibition will remain open till March 2, 2022.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations Department,
Government College University (GCU)
Squash Complex, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-000-010 Ext: 296
Tel: +92-42-99213343
Cell: +92-321-8440769
Email: registrar@gcu.edu.pk
Website: http://www.gcu.edu.pk