September 8, 2021 – Page 2 – Newswire Pakistan

September 8, 2021

Panel Discussion on “Conversations on the Afghan Peace Process: Russia’s Role in Afghanistan”

Islamabad, September 08, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) had a Panel Discussion on ‘Conversations on the evolving situation in Afghanistan: Russia’s Role in Afghanistan,’ fifth in a series of conversations CAMEA is having on Afghanistan – under its Conversations on the evolving situation Afghan series.

The distinguished speakers included: Ambassador Omar Samad, Nonresident Senior Fellow Atlantic Council; Dr. Alexander A. Kornilov, Prof. Dr. at Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod, Head of Region Studies of Foreign Countries; Dr. Nigel Gould-Davies, Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS); Ambassador Qazi M. Khalilullah, Executive Director Center for International Strategic Studies Sindh (CISSS) and Former Ambassador of Pakistan to Russia; Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General, ISSI and Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman BOG, ISSI, also took part in the discussion.

During her opening remarks, Ms. Amina Khan, Director CAMEA, said that with the US withdrawal, the real test for Afghanistan has only just begun. It is imperative for the Taliban to engage with Afghan stakeholders and form a government that is inclusive and representative of all Afghans. This is a historic opportunity for all Afghans to come together and work for the future of Afghanistan. Despite previous differences, regional stakeholders, including Russia are coming out of the woodwork to assume a more substantive role in the future of Afghanistan.

Pakistan, Iran, Russia, China, and the Central Asian nations appear to have a common (regional) vision for the future of Afghanistan, which entails regional ownership, recognition of a negotiated settlement with the Afghan Taliban as a key component, inclusive political set up, as well as curbing transnational terrorist group, the illegal flow of arms and trade. Needless to say, in such trying times, Russia’s role has been revitalized as a supportive regional actor highlighting Moscow’s keen involvement in the peace process and is its desire to showcase itself as a leading player and advocate for peace and stability in the region.

Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad said that Russia has been striving hard for a peaceful Afghanistan and we see quite a bit of congruence between Russia and all regional countries in their approach towards amnesty in Afghanistan. Though the Taliban have given assurances, the challenges have however, only begun and we have yet to see to what extent will the Taliban live up to their commitments. It appears that at the moment all regional countries, including Russia are in a wait and see mode.

Dr. Alexander A. Kornilov said that Afghanistan cannot be conquered and cannot be won. Russia is not interested in the disintegration of Afghanistan. Officials in Russia have made it clear that if the Government in Afghanistan partners with regional countries, it will be able to counter all external and violent threats within the country. The sooner the Taliban form a government, the easier it would be for the group to communicate with other countries. Hence, in this regard, they should make a framework that ensures regional security.

He also pointed out that Qatar and Turkey will now be actively and deeply involved in the process in Kabul. He said that the future government must be representative and inclusive, which will be sustainable for a certain period without facing any major internal political threat. With regards to the future role of India in Afghanistan, Dr. Alexander said that given that there is now more cohesion and trust between Russia, China and Pakistan, Pakistan is a very important country.

Dr. Nigel Gould-Davies said that the last time the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, it was a very difficult time and radiated various problems in Central Asia. Russia being a near neighbour of Afghanistan is rightly concerned about the evolving situation. He said the recent fall of Kabul was different from the past and this time, the Taliban are seen as a stabilizing force. He pointed out how right before the fall of Kabul, Russia conducted joint military exercises with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan at the Afghanistan border- a posture that had different meanings for different actors.

In this regard, he said the Taliban must not look beyond the borders of Afghanistan and with respect to foreign forces, they must be assured that there will be no interference. He voiced his scepticism about how stable the Taliban government would be in the backdrop of reports of violence coming out from Afghanistan. He pointed out that the Taliban remain a banned organisation in Russia even though Russia is one of the first countries whom the Taliban have invited for the inauguration of their new government.

Dr. Omar Samad said that Russia was recalibrating its position when the government of Ashraf Ghani was involved in corruption, mismanagement, and bad governance which eventually led Russia to open its doors for the Taliban. He said Russia wants inclusivity in the future government in Afghanistan and does not want the Taliban to monopolize power. He also pointed out that increased coordination between all stakeholders is a positive development. However, whether this can be consolidated will depend on how the Taliban run the country and whether they will be open to broad-based solutions.

He was of the view that if the Taliban fail the credible expectations of the regional and international countries, the fall-out will result in the suffering of all the neighbouring countries, including Pakistan. On the high poverty levels Afghanistan has been experiencing, Ambassador Samad said this is a huge challenge for the Taliban and how the international community will handle this is interesting. There should be regional mechanisms in place as well as qualified individuals who can advise the government in this regard. It is also important to not fall back on the previous system of the 90s where Afghanistan was an NGO-run government. The needs and expectations of the people are now different, he said.

Ambassador Qazi M. Khalilullah said that Russia knows that events in Afghanistan leave deep impacts on neighbouring countries which makes the latter immediate stakeholders of peace in Afghanistan. This is also a primary reason that has led Russia to view Pakistan as a very important country, including it in all important meetings held regarding the future of Afghanistan. Afghans must be allowed to govern their affairs and Afghan soil will not be used against any country and both Russia and Pakistan are hoping that the future Afghan government should be inclusive, without any external involvement.

He stressed that the Taliban need the help of regional countries and should be provided due humanitarian assistance. He stated that Pakistan’s agenda has always been peace because of its long border with Afghanistan due to which events in Afghanistan have affected almost all walks of life in Pakistan. There are a lot of expectations from the Taliban in the short span they have taken over. Hence, it would be prudent to wait till they announce the form and structure of their government. This time, the Taliban are in a better position to formulate and implement their policies, as opposed to the past.

Ambassador Khalid Mahmood said that if the Taliban implement their assurances regarding respecting human rights and making an inclusive government in Afghanistan, then the country and region will enjoy peace and stability. He said that Russia has three key concerns; apprehension of extremism and terrorism, the possible flow of refugees and drug trafficking. Taliban have to fulfil their commitments about an inclusive government.

He said Russia has adopted a dual approach, one of which is a diplomatic approach and one which encompasses securing their borders by conducting military exercises. He went on to say that one cannot ignore the plight of Afghan people who are asking for assistance. If trillions of dollars can be spent on war, a few dollars to help Afghan people will not be a difficult task. It is the collective responsibility of the international community to help Afghans, he said.

For more information, contact:
Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI)
Sector F-5/2, Islamabad – 44000, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9202481
Fax: +92-51-9204658
E-mail: strategy@issi.org.pk
Website: http://issi.org.pk/

September 8, 2021

B.A/ B.Sc. Private Candidates Rollno’s and Examination Centres for Annual Examinations 2021

Peshawar, September 08, 2021 (PPI-OT):B.A/ B.Sc Annual Examinations 2021 will commence from 15th September, 2021. Private Candidates Roll no and Examination Centre details are uploaded for information.

Click here to view Details:

http://www.uop.edu.pk/examinations/rollnolist.php

Click here to View Datesheet:

http://www.uop.edu.pk/news/?q=3370

For more information, contact:
Media and Protocol Officer
University of Peshawar
Tel: +92-91-9218463
Email: mpo@upesh.edu.pk
Website: www.upesh.edu.pk

September 8, 2021

SBASSE Introduces New Fellowship Programme for Undergraduates

Lahore, September 08, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering (SBASSE), LUMS is proud to announce 24 Honorific Fellowships for its undergraduate programmes in the basic sciences – Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. These Fellowships have been established through a generous donation from Founding Pro Chancellor, Syed Babar Ali and Packages Limited to commemorate his 90th birthday.

The Fellowships are aimed to bolster interest in fundamental sciences and incentivise students to pursue them as their majors. Each fellowship awardee will be eligible for a 50% tuition waiver for a year. The 24 scholarships will be distributed amongst sophomores, juniors and seniors, based on their CGPA.

Talking about his motivation behind his donation, Syed Babar Ali said, “With these Fellowships my hope is that we will nurture future scientists. Supporting young minds to explore the sciences and expand their horizons has the potential to greatly benefit our society.”

Dr. Arshad Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, LUMS, expressed his gratitude to Syed Babar Ali for his continued generosity and said, “These Fellowships open pathways for students and in particular women interested in the pure sciences. They also provide opportunities to become full partners with faculty doing ground-breaking work at SSE.”

Dean SBASSE, Dr. Muhammad Sabieh Anwar elaborated on the purpose behind the scholarships, “The Fellowship programme reaffirms our commitment to appreciating the value of fundamental knowledge in discovery and birth of novel solutions to the problems we face in the 21st century. The best and the brightest must be attracted to these fundamental branches of knowledge.”

Each fellowship awarded is named after a renowned scientist from the region.

Bilqees Mujeeb Fellowship – Biology

Dr. Mujeeb, born in 1936, was a pioneer in the field of parasitology in Pakistan. Her teaching and research experience spanned five decades. Dr. Mujeeb discovered almost a thousand new types of worms from animals in Pakistan and 40 new species have been named in her honour. She authored more than 75 scientific articles in Urdu, and about 500 research papers. Dr. Mujeeb obtained her PhD from the University of Toronto in 1966.

Ahmed H. Zewail Fellowship – Chemistry

Dr. Zewail was born in 1946 in Damanhur, Egypt and is widely regarded as the father of Femtochemistry. He was the first Arab Nobel Laureate in the category of science, whose discovery in rapid laser technology enabled the study of chemical reaction at the atomic level. Dr. Zewail published over 600 papers and 14 books and was the Linus Pauling Chair as Professor in Chemistry, as well as Director, Physical Biology Centre for Ultrafast Science and Technology at the California Institute of Technology (CALTECH).

Khawaja Dil Muhammad Fellowship – Mathematics

Born in 1884, Dr. Muhammad was a great mathematician and authored more than 32 books on the subject. Dil ka Hindsa and Dil ka Algebra were some of his popular books. He was also a poet. Some of his famous works were Peet Ki Reet and Dil ki Geeta. Dr. Muhammad started his professional life as a lecturer at Islamia College Lahore and retired from the institution as Principal.

Chandrasekhar Fellowship – Physics

Born in Lahore, in 1910, Dr. Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983 for his theoretical studies of the physical processes of importance to the structure and evolution of the stars. His research made it possible to understand the maximum mass of stable white dwarf stars, predict neutron stars and understand certain types of supernovae. NASA’s premiere X-ray telescope in orbit around Earth, the Chandra Telescope, was named in his honour.

For details of the Fellowships please visit the SBASSE website here:

https://sbasse.lums.edu.pk/honorific-fellowships

For more information, contact:
Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
D.H.A. Lahore Cantt. 54792
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-35608000
Fax: +92-42-35725048
Website: www.lums.edu.pk

September 8, 2021

LUMS Welcomes Class of 2025

Lahore, September 08, 2021 (PPI-OT):Beginning university is an important milestone for every student. To celebrate this momentous occasion, and to welcome the Class of 2025, LUMS held an exciting mix of online and in-person events as part of this year’s Orientation Week. The celebrations kicked-off on August 30, 2021, and over the course of six days, students had the opportunity to get to know what life at LUMS is all about.

The Opening Ceremony featured messages from the University’s leadership, management and the Student Council, who warmly welcomed the incoming batch and offered words of encouragement and support.

Anoosh Fatima Khan, President, Student Council, assured new students unwavering support throughout their time at LUMS. “The Council is a student-elected institution which works as a liaison between the student body and the administration so that none of your concerns or voices go unheard. My team and I welcome you and promise that we will make you feel at home.”

Dr. Adnan Zahid, Dean, Office of Student Affairs, encouraged the students to take advantage of all the facilities and experiences LUMS has to offer. He shared that students have access to over 50 student societies, ranging from dramatics and music to literature and science and that LUMS also offers exchange programmes at some of the best universities of the world.

Addressing the incoming batch, Vice Chancellor, Dr. Arshad Ahmad, urged the first-years to explore new passions. He added, “LUMS is your new family. Your greatest learning will derive from the diversity at LUMS, and appreciating new perspectives. So make the most of your time, test your limits and let nothing stop you from reaching your potential.”

The students also received an inspiring welcome from Syed Babar Ali, Founding Pro Chancellor, “Your time at LUMS is going to be historic. You will learn as much in the classroom as outside the classroom. Take full advantage of your stay at LUMS; join societies, use the library, meet the faculty, and add to your knowledge. Whatever you learn can be a treasure for you for the rest of your life.”

During the O-Week proceedings, students had the opportunity to experience a virtual campus tour, and were apprised of the COVID-19 SOPs on campus. They also explored the learning and teaching methodology at the University through a session titled, ‘Welcome to My Class’. Faculty members explained some of the flexible learning options that have been built into the courses to make learning accessible for all students, and the types of assessments that students can expect in their courses. Students also learnt more about the advising landscape at LUMS, the support systems in place, and the University’s policies.

Throughout the week, students interacted and bonded with each other. They engaged in fun-filled activities such as a sports gala, scavenger hunt, a virtual game festival, Mind Quest rounds and even attended a concert by the LUMS Music Society.

Students were thrilled with their experience and expressed their appreciation. Hassan Adnan, an incoming first-year, shared, “It’s safe to say that this semester couldn’t have kicked-off any better! Mingling amongst a very cosmopolitan O-Week group gave me insight into the lives of first-years from all over the country. It fuels one’s drive to share classrooms with such diverse people. It’s hard to accept that O-Week is over!”

The excitement and camaraderie experienced during O-Week provided new students with a great start to their journey at LUMS. We wish them all the best of luck!

For more information, contact:
Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
D.H.A. Lahore Cantt. 54792
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-35608000
Fax: +92-42-35725048
Website: www.lums.edu.pk

September 8, 2021

A webinar on Pakistan’s Geostrategic Importance organized by IUB

Bahawalpur, September 08, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Department of International Relations at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur organized a webinar on Pakistan’s Geostrategic Importance: Challenges and Opportunities. Lt. Gen (R) Muhammad Ashraf Saleem was the guest speaker. The webinar was attended by Vice Chancellor Engr. Prof. Dr. Athar Mahboob, Chairman Department of International Relations, Dr. Muhammad Ijaz Latif, faculty members and students. The online interactive session included debate and discussion on understanding Pakistan’s geo-strategic importance from regional and global perspective.

The webinar was inaugurated by Engr. Prof. Dr. Athar Mahboob who appreciated the Department of International Relations on organizing a webinar focusing on the importance of Pakistan in South Asia by virtue of its position. He talked about Pakistan being the one nation which has faced the brunt of past Afghan wars. He also reiterated that it’s time for the world to let Pakistan benefit from the reconstruction and reformation in Afghanistan. The Vice Chancellor concluded his remarks by saying that it’s a good sign for Pakistan that the war in Afghanistan has come to an end.

Lt. Gen (R) Muhammad Ashraf Saleem, in his keynote speech highlighted the importance of the topic by discussing how geo-strategy aims at enhancing the security and prosperity of a nation. He was of the view that in order to make the most of its geostrategic position, Pakistan must focus on achieving good governance. He also mentioned that a combination of military power, strategic power and national will, helped Pakistan to stand strong when NATO was in Afghanistan. He shared his insight on how Pakistan has been able to formulate a successful foreign policy throughout.

Responding to the question from audience he mentioned that Pakistan has much potential in enhancing her soft power through establishing facilities for foreigners to come in universities providing technical education. Furthermore in response to another question he shared that having lesser foreign intervention in Afghanistan the contemporary administration will be able to bring peace in Afghanistan through economic development easing Pakistan regarding her western border. He urged the international community to see that Pakistan has been the largest contributor to peacekeeping.

He concluded his discussion by re-emphasizing Pakistan’s increasing geo-strategic significance in changing regional scenario in the wake of transformation in Afghanistan, increasing role of China through CPEC in BRI. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ijaz Latif, Chairman Department of International Relations, concluded the session and thanked Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen (R) Muhammad Ashraf Saleem, faculty members, students and all the participants.

In his remarks he highlighted the fact that geostrategic position acts as a crucial factor determining foreign policy choices of a state. He mentioned that Pakistan is endowed with a number of factors strengthening its geo strategic position in the region. He was of the view that in the current scenario Pakistan will have to be very vigilant about external influence on her land. He also stated that Pakistan will have to be very cautious in her foreign policy decision making and needs to focus on strengthening economic links with Central Asian republics.

For more information, contact:
The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB)
University Chowk, Gulshan Colony, Bahawalpur,
Punjab – 63100, Pakistan
Tel: +92-62-9250235
Fax: +92-62-9250335
E-mail: info@iub.edu.pk
Website: https://www.iub.edu.pk/

September 8, 2021

A webinar on Pakistan Defense Day organized by IUB

Bahawalpur, September 08, 2021 (PPI-OT):A webinar on Pakistan Defense Day was organized by the Department of Pakistan Studies, Islamia University of Bahawalpur. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chawla, Former Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Punjab University Lahore, Prof. Dr. Jawed Hassan Chandio, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Languages, Prof. Dr. Aftab Hussain Gilani, Dean, Faculty of Law and Chairman Department of Pakistan Studies and Dr. Rubina Yasmeen, Assistant Professor participated. On this occasion, Prof. Dr. Athar Mahboob Vice Chancellor in his message said that today is the day of the soldiers and martyrs who protected the geographical and ideological borders of Pakistan and defended their motherland.

On September 6, our forces crushed the nefarious intentions of an enemy five times of our size. Our enemy who came to wipe out our beloved homeland from the map of the world was badly defeated. The spirit of defense and self-sacrifice of the people of Pakistan is a shining chapter in our history. Today is the day of renewed commitment that every citizen of this country will give priority to national interests and security over his personal interest and will never allow any threat to the security of the country.