LAHORE – Punjab University (PU) Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran inaugurated the “Disaster Risk Management” workshop at the varsity’s Undergraduate Block on Monday. The workshop was organised by the Geography department in collaboration with National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM). Dr Kamran said disasters were bound to happen but the citizens should remain prepared to cope with the losses. He said Punjab University performed relief work for the victims of earthquake, flood and Swat’s internally displaced persons (IDPs).
He said the varsity had also established a disaster fund in this regard and added that that unfortunately a shortage of experts in appropriate fields was being faced and the preparations regarding disaster management were not up to the mark. He said the relief work had always been difficult because the victims require rehabilitation at physical as well as mental and psychological level. He appreciated the geography department’s administration for conducting such workshop and hoped for positive results in future.
NIDM Director Falak Nawaz said that the objective of the workshop was to create awareness about minimizing the losses resulting from disasters. He said the world has been facing disasters for the last few years and added that the losses could be minimized only by preparation and awareness. He said NIDM would continue organising such awareness programs in future.
Geography department research scholar Muhammad Waseem said the students should be made aware of the geographical changes throughout the world.
Geography department former chairman Dr Tabbasum Jamal, NIDM Director Falak Nawaz, Dr Mansoor Sarwar, Registrar Dr Muhammad Akhtar, faculty members and large number of students were also present.
UNESCO project inauguration: PU VC will inaugurate a UNESCO sponsored project of the “Sui-Vihar Excavations and Archaeological Reconnaissance of Southern Punjab” at the University Campus today. The Pakistan National Commission has placed funds worth $26,000 at the disposal of the Archaeology department to undertake the project. The project will be launched immediately after the inaugural session during which a team of archaeologist headed by Dr Farzand Masih will comb the area around Sui Vihar in Bahawalpur to map the cultural mounds. The VC will also launch a research journal “Ancient Punjab” published by the varsity’s Archaeology Department.
