LAHORE - Three memorandums of understanding were signed between Punjab government and international universities at a local hotel here on Friday for setting foreign varsities campuses in Knowledge Park.
Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif was the chief guest on the occasion. Secretary Higher Education Abdullah Sunbal and representatives of international universities signed documents. Under the agreements International Scottish Qualification Authority UK, COMSATS/University of Lancaster and Noor International University will set up their campuses in the state of the art Knowledge Park to be established in Lahore. These institutions will extend cooperation for the promotion of research in Punjab. Similarly, they will also share their experiences and skills for promoting higher education in Punjab as well as award scholarships to students. Addressing the function, the Chief Minister said all out measures will be taken for giving a practical shape to these agreements as early as possible.
The CM said that the Knowledge Park is being set up at an extremely prime location of Lahore and it will be a center of knowledge and research. He said that Knowledge Park is based on the vision to take Pakistan forward with researchers producing laurels for the country. Shahbaz Sharif said that Information Technology University will be shifted to the knowledge park while kidney and liver research center as well as institutes with regard to medical and other important sectors will also be established in the park. He said that the government wants to benefit from the experiences of foreign educationists for the promotion of higher education and their guidance is needed for this purpose. Replying to a question, the Chief Minister said that the targets of development cannot be achieved without bringing women into mainstream of national development. He made an appeal to daughters of the nation to take an active part in the process of development so that Pakistan could make rapid progress. He said that Punjab government has taken solid measures for the empowerment of women and a programme of provision of small loans to the women has been started. Country Director British Council Pakistan Peter Upton in his address commended the efforts being made by Punjab government under the leadership of Shahbaz Sharif for the promotion of education in the province.
He said British Prime Minister has also lauded the measures taken for the uplift of education sector in Punjab.