LAHORE: Punjab University (PU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr Muhammad Zakria Zakir has said that the expansion of international outreach and linkages of the university are his first priority.
Talking to the media here on Sunday, he said that no university could win a good repute at international level in isolation.
He said that PU was among the world’s best institutes of research and learning. It has 85 departments over an area of a five-kilometre radius, and about 2,000 teachers and 47,000 students are part of this great centre of learning.
Replying to a question, he said that it is his firm belief that a perfect and peaceful environment is vital for learning and critical thinking, both of which he will ensure at every cost.
He also said that only a few dozen students, less than 0.01% of the total strength, might be violent. “But they cannot be allowed to create unrest on campus,” he added.
“There is no harm in having diverse ideas and affiliations, but we cannot allow anyone to create disturbance in the peaceful atmosphere of the university and waste precious time of the young generation,” he said.
“We are here to enlighten our youth and empower them to tackle the future challenges and not merely to enable them to earn a livelihood,” he added.
He further said that the university was going to set up a special centre for capacity-building of under-developed regions of the country. It will work for improving deficiencies of students living in various remote and under-developed parts of the country.
“We will improve their English language and also enable them to participate in competitive exams and various other such activities,” he promised.
The centre will also play a role in removing regional and social disparities and creating a level playing field for those who are unable to compete due to their certain deficiencies and barriers at present.
He said that various departments of the university like the physics department, molecular biology department etc., have a very good reputation in the world.
“Our PhD system is different from other universities of the country,” he informed. “We cannot issue a PhD degree without seeking approval from two well-reputed professors from universities from the industrialised and developed countries like the US, Japan, Malaysia etc.”
To another question, he answered that in his 29-year academic career, he has never been disappointed by the students. “The students just need proper guidance which we are here to provide them,” he stated.
The VC said that the university has chalked out short-term, medium and long-term plans to improve the university and that the university was following an active strategy to counter important issues. One of its examples is that the varsity has formed a research group to protect children in consultation with the Child Protection Bureau soon after the Zainab rape and murder incident in Kasur.
“It is a universities duty to lead the nation towards resolving different issues and PU will not disappoint the nation in this regard,” he added.
