Lahore: The University of the Punjab hosted the Finance and Planning Committee meetings for the Centres of Excellence in the Punjab region on August 24-25, 2024. Held at the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), the meetings brought together directors and representatives from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and 11 Centres of Excellence to deliberate on key financial strategies and planning initiatives.

According to University of the Punjab, the meetings saw participation from prominent figures such as Ms. Samina Durrani, Director of Finance at HEC, and Dr. Mazhar Saeed, Advisor Finance at HEC. Discussions focused on optimizing financial budgets and frameworks to improve resource allocation efficiency across the Centres of Excellence. These centers span a range of disciplines and institutions, including several specialized centers at the University of the Punjab and others like the University of Engineering and Technology and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad.

The session also featured a tour of CEMB’s laboratories where Ms. Durrani was briefed on current research projects by Prof. Moazur Rahman, the director of CEMB. She expressed appreciation for the centre’s innovative work in agriculture, stem cells, regenerative medicine, and biopharmaceuticals, recognizing their potential contributions to societal and economic advancements.