Scientific research on social issues ‘essential’

Prof Nizamuddin says PHEC will provide funding for research projects


Our Correspondent January 16, 2018
Prof Nizamuddin says PHEC will provide funding for research projects. PHOTO: REUTERS

LAHORE: Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairman Prof Nizamuddin has said that people’s social problems would not be resolved and Kasur-like incidents could not be prevented unless there is scientific research on social issues.

He said this while addressing a meeting of heads of departments and professors of Punjab University at Al Raazi Hall, a press release issued on Monday said.

The meeting was convened by Punjab University (PU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Zakria Zakir for brainstorming on role of academia in creating awareness against child abuse. The PU VC, deans of various faculties and heads of departments were present on the occasion.

Dr Nizamuddin said, “We must do research on sociocultural issues using scientific methods to better understand human rights.”

He added, “We should know about real issues and existing situations through research. However, there are different taboos in our society and we could not openly discuss various topics. He said that such barriers should be removed from our society.”

The PHEC chief said we need to understand family values and give training to our parents, teachers and students in order to cope with Kasur like incidents.



He said that we needed to define extremism and we must point out the reasons behind it. He said that PHEC would provide funding for such research projects.

PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Zakria Zakir said that Kasur-like incidents were happening in all the countries of the world and this was a global issue. He said that PU would conduct multi-disciplinary research on the issue since it was a matter of our survival.

He maintained that PU, after conducting scientific research, would provide policy guidelines to the government and would play its role to sensitise civil society and media in this regard.

He added there was need to promote linkages between societies and universities and PU would play lead role in resolving such issues.

PU team visits Kasur

On the directions of Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Zakria Zakir, a team of social and psychological experts of PU visited Kasur. The team, consisting Muhammad Arshad Abbasi, Aaliya Khalid, Saadia Shoaib and a number of students visited various schools and colleges to create awareness against child abuse and collected data.

The team also called upon education chief executive officer, deputy commissioner and social welfare deputy district officer to discuss awareness campaign against child abuse.

Date sheet issued

Punjab University examinations department issued date sheet of MA/MSc Part-II supplementary examination 2017. The Detailed date sheets were also available at PU website www.pu.edu.pk.

Meanwhile, the PU also declared the results of MSc Social Work Part-II annual examination 2017. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2018. 

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