Estb. 1882

University of the Punjab

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PU, SSDO to collaborate for achieving sustainable development goals
PU, SSDO to collaborate for achieving sustainable development goals


LAHORE: (Monday, October 05, 2020): Punjab University Centre for Research on Sustainable Development Goals and Sustainable Social Development Organization have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch joint projects for achieving sustainable development goals set by United Nations in Pakistan. In this regard, a ceremony was organized at Institute of Social and Cultural Studies here on Monday. Punjab Minister for Literacy and Non Formal Basic Education Raja Muhammad Rashid Hafeez, PU Vice Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmad, Quaid e Azam University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali, Institute of Social and Cultural Studies Director Prof Dr Rubina Zakar, PU Centre for Research on Sustainable Development Goals Prof Dr Khalil Ahmed, SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas and others participated in the event. Addressing the ceremony, Minister Raja Rashid Hafeez said that no nation could progress without education and illiteracy was the mother of most of problems. Therefore, he said, Punjab government was making all out efforts and had taken several initiatives to improve literacy rate and promote education in Pakistan for development of our country. He congratulated both the organizations for developing collaboration and emphasized that academics and civil society should work together and play their role in creating awareness and generating data that could help SDGs related policy making.
PU VC Prof Niaz Ahmed said that PU had set up Centre for Research on SDGs for social development of our country. He said that the aim of establishment of this centre was to integrate efforts of PU teachers and students working in different departments on various social development projects so that our nation could benefit from research. He said that PU administration was promoting such research projects having positive socio-economic impact for development of our country as well as our society. He assured that the Centre will be provided required resources for the planned activities. The VC said that the Center should produce meaningful research that could be beneficial for the society.
Prof Dr Muhammad Ali said that QAU would also collaborate with PU and other organization to achieve SDGs for social development. Addressing the ceremony, Prof Dr Rubeena Zakar said that PU has established CRSDG with an aim to make effort for elimination of poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for the people. She said that the purpose of the centre was to translate SDGs into meaningful policies, solutions through evidence-based research, evaluation, training and advocacy. He said that the major objective was to develop cross-sectoral leadership and provide knowledge, innovation and solutions to SDGs related policy making. She said that CRSDG was developing collaboration with the Sustainable Social Development Organization, working on issues of peace and sustainable development in Pakistan. She said that SSDO would work together to initiate/organize research and advocacy activities and training for scholarly exchange of knowledge on issues related to SDGs. After signing the ceremony, Minister Raja Muhammad Hafeez along with PU VC Prof Niaz Ahmad and others inaugurated the SDGs wall set up at the institute.