ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood on Friday visited the South Asian University (SAU) in New Delhi and had fruitful exchange of views with SAU’s President Dr. Kavita A. Sharma.
Emphasizing SAARC’s role as the primary platform for regional cooperation in South Asia, High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood expressed the hope that the SAARC process would continue to move forward and help the South Asian people realize their collective vision for socio-economic development.
According to a message received here, the High Commissioner affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening its relationship with South Asia University and advancing mutually-beneficial collaboration in the field of higher education in future.
Specifically, High Commissioner underlined the interest of Pakistani student in pursuing higher studies at SAU and highlighted the importance of University’s facilitative role in this context.
The High Commissioner also conveyed readiness to help strengthen collaborative linkages between SAU and its partner Universities in Pakistan, facilitate academic exchanges, and promote participation in Conferences/ Seminars.
During his tour of the University Campus, the High Commissioner was briefed about the University’s major academic programmes, the student body and Faculty, key areas of research, and plans underway for the new campus of SAU.
The High Commissioner also visited various departments, labs and library.
The High Commissioner presented a set of books to the SAU President illustrating the Sikh, Hindu and Christian heritage in Pakistan. President Kavita Sharma presented a memento to the High Commissioner.
The South Asian University was established jointly by the eight SAARC member states — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The agreement for the establishment of SAU was signed during the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi on April 4, 2007. The University began taking students in August 2010.
