Tag: (GCU)

Lahore, February 06, 2023 (PPI-OT):The Government College University (GCU) Lahore has received a huge grant of five million euros from German Science Foundation for the development and commercial production of low-cost orthopedic implants in Pakistan. The foreign grant involves funding for the National Center of Excellence on Biomaterial Materials Science and Tissue Engineering, which will be established at GCU Lahore.

The 67th Syndicate meeting of GCU Lahore, chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Syed Asghar Zaidi, approved the project and the establishment of the National Center of Excellence, and the associated academic department which will offer BS, MS, and PhD programs in Materials Science Engineering, Biomaterials, and Tissue Engineering.

The Syndicate also approved nine other projects worth Rs. 587 million, including the development of a comprehensive Campus Management System, the upgrading of 130 classrooms to smart classrooms, the renovation of the Stephenson Natural History Museum, the establishment of a centralized life sciences lab, and the construction of a new sports gym, and the solarisation in the main campus and the new campus.

The German project, titled “Low-cost bioactive glass-based composite coatings for orthopedic implants,” aims to use state-of-the-art 3D printing technology to fabricate different types of orthopedic implants coated with bioactive glasses. The 3D printed implants will address the issue of corrosion and uncontrolled release of toxic metal ions from current stainless steel and titanium-based orthopedic implants.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Zaidi proudly said that the Principal Investigator (PI) of the project, Dr. Eng. Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman, will serve as the founding director of the National Center of Excellence. Engr Jawad Manzur will be the deputy director.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Zaidi said the project aims to make implants more affordable for the low-income population. The current orthopedic implants in Pakistan can be expensive and are susceptible to corrosion and toxic metal ion release. However, the cost of imported implants can reach 70,000 rupees, making them unaffordable for many in the low-income country.

Dr. Eng. Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman told the syndicate that the project will use 3D printing technology to create orthopedic implants, such as bone plates and screws, coated with bioactive glass-based composites. Bioactive glasses can be doped with different ions for therapeutic benefits and improved tissue regeneration. Dr. Atiq and his team have also researched the use of natural herbs for skin regeneration.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi, called the 67th Syndicate meeting as one of the most successful and historic in the life of the GCU. He said it was a fitting way to celebrate 20 years of attaining the university status. The Syndicate members praised the Vice Chancellor and his team for their comprehensive preparation and briefing about the projects, saying that these landmark projects will take GCU to new heights.
The meeting was also attended by Senator Dr Zarqa Suharwardy, Rashid Latif Khan University Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. M Khalid Khan, Chairman Lahore Board Dr. Mirza Habib, industrialist Mr. Anwaar Ahmad Khan, and representatives from the law, finance, and higher education departments.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations Department,
Government College University (GCU)
Squash Complex, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-000-010 Ext: 296
Tel: +92-42-99213343
Cell: +92-321-8440769
Email: registrar@gcu.edu.pk
Website: http://www.gcu.edu.pk

Lahore, January 31, 2023 (PPI-OT):A blood donation camp at Government College University Lahore draws huge success, with students and faculty coming together to donate blood. Over 200 bottles of blood were collected for children suffering from thalassemia and cancer on the first day of a two-day camp organized by the University’s Blood Donor Society (BDS) in partnership with the Fatimid Foundation.

The Vice Chancellor of GCU, Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi, not only visited the camp but also made a blood donation, inspiring others to follow suit. The Vice-Chancellor said the GCU Blood Donor Society every year donate over 1600 units of blood to patients in need. “This year’s camp once again demonstrated the university’s commitment to making a positive impact in the community,” he added.

Students who participated in the blood drive emphasized the importance of blood donation, and the positive impact it has on the health of donors. “By reducing the risk of heart attack, cancer, and improving blood pressure and cholesterol levels, blood donation is a selfless act that saves lives and benefits the donor,” they said. The blood donation camp was organised in collaboration with the Fatimid Foundation.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations Department,
Government College University (GCU)
Squash Complex, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-000-010 Ext: 296
Tel: +92-42-99213343
Cell: +92-321-8440769
Email: registrar@gcu.edu.pk
Website: http://www.gcu.edu.pk

Lahore, January 25, 2023 (PPI-OT):The 28th Academic Council of Government College University Lahore has approved different new departments and academic programs aimed at strengthening the University’s academic offerings and research capabilities. Among the key decisions made at the meeting, chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi and attended by a number of eminent academicians and subject experts, was the establishment of the Arshad Sharif Memorial Institute of Media and Communication Studies.

This new institute will include the Department of Digital Communication and Media and the Department of Media and Communication Studies, and will serve as a platform for the practice of innovative media technologies and communication techniques with the goal of reshaping and transforming society.

In addition to the Institute, the Academic Council also recommended the establishment of a state-of-the-art Department of Agriculture on the University’s New Campus. The Vice Chancellor stated that the University has ample space on the new campus which will allow for research in this field.

The Vice Chancellor also announced that the University has received a five million euro project from the German government and will be initiating a new program in biomaterial engineering and a center of excellence. Additionally, to accommodate the increasing number of applicants for intermediate level classes, the University will also be starting evening classes for Intermediate students with 600 admissions offered from next year. The Academic Council also approved the new PhD policy of the Higher Education Commission, which allows students to enroll in a PhD program after completing a BS degree.

Prof. Zaidi stated that the meeting was a successful and meaningful one and that the recommendations will take effect after final approval from the Syndicate. He said overall, the decisions made at the 28th Academic Council meeting demonstrate a commitment to expanding and improving the University’s academic offerings and research capabilities, as well as providing opportunities for students to receive an education in cutting-edge fields and technologies.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations Department,
Government College University (GCU)
Squash Complex, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-000-010 Ext: 296
Tel: +92-42-99213343
Cell: +92-321-8440769
Email: registrar@gcu.edu.pk
Website: http://www.gcu.edu.pk

Lahore, January 21, 2023 (PPI-OT):The Finance and Planning Committee of GC University Lahore has recommended to the Syndicate a record budget allocation of around Rs. 500 million from the own resources of the University to improve student services on its two campuses. This will enhance the overall educational and research experience of the students. The meeting was chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi, with the presence of key members of the University, including the Treasurer, Pro-VC, Dean, Registrar and nominees of the Syndicate, Secretary Higher Education and Secretary Finance. Agenda was presented by GCU Treasurer Abid Shahzad.

In a press statement issued here on Sunday, Vice-Chancellor said that Government College Lahore, one of the oldest seats of higher learning, was granted the status of University in 2002, and there could no better way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of becoming a leading university of the country than to invest in improving its student services. One of the many key projects recommended to improve the classroom experience is the establishment of 100 model classrooms and 30 graduate rooms with the latest technology and resources including smart boards, projectors, speedy internet, furniture and other facilities. The graduate rooms will provide a space for postgraduate students and faculty to engage in meaningful discussions and collaborations, which will help to enhance their research and innovation.

GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Zaidi told the media that the University is also investing in upgrading its IT infrastructure, with a budget of Rs. 150 million. “This is a much-needed investment, as no investment has been made in this area since 2013,” he added. The Finance body recommended a budget of Rs. 119 million for automating of different functions of the University through a comprehensive Campus Management System (CMS), which will be developed and deployed in the next one and a half years.

The University has planned upgrading its gym with a budget of Rs. 36 million to provide both male and female players with access to the latest exercise equipment and facilities to improve their physical fitness and well-being. A central life sciences laboratory will also be set up on campus to improve access for all students to the latest science equipment and multidisciplinary projects. This will provide students with opportunities to engage in hands-on learning and research, and will help to prepare them for careers in science and technology.

Prof. Zaidi said the University has also decided to renovate its 100-year-old Natural History Museum, which is one of its kind in Pakistan. The museum currently possesses around 6000 specimens. It has a unique collection of specimens, including a collection of butterflies, and is of particular interest to scientists studying taxonomy, ecology, and evolution. The museum also features a separate section for invertebrates and fossils collected from Pakistan. The Vice-Chancellor said this renovation would help to preserve the history and heritage, and would provide students and visitors with an opportunity to learn more about the natural world.

Prof. Zaidi said that these recommendations would be placed before the University’s syndicate for the approval. However, he said “the University administration is thrilled to have been able to allocate such a significant budget towards improving student services on our campuses. We believe that these projects will have a major impact on the educational and research experience for our students, and we are committed to ensuring that GC University Lahore continues to be a leader in higher education in Pakistan.”

The finance body also approved statutes of different departments of the University including the Quality Enhancement Cell, Directorate of Planning and Development, Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization, Directorate of Sports, Directorate of Purchase, Security Office and Directorate of Information Technology.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations Department,
Government College University (GCU)
Squash Complex, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-000-010 Ext: 296
Tel: +92-42-99213343
Cell: +92-321-8440769
Email: registrar@gcu.edu.pk
Website: http://www.gcu.edu.pk

Lahore, January 20, 2023 (PPI-OT):The Government College University Lahore accorded a historic red-carpet welcome to its squash team as they returned home victorious from the All Pakistan Inter University Squash Championship organized by the Higher Education Commission in Islamabad.

The members of the winning team Uzair Rasheed, M. Usman, Kaleem Ullah and Abdul Rehman were greeted by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi, and the presidents of university sports clubs.
In the final match, GCU Lahore defeated SUIT by 2-0 and claimed the well-deserved victory and finished as the only unbeaten team of the tournament.

The Vice-chancellor said that welcoming the winning team as heroes is a new tradition that will motivate other teams. He added that this championship victory is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players, coaches, and staff. The university community is proud of the team’s achievements and looks forward to more success in the future.

The Vice-Chancellor also emphasized on the importance of sports in education and how it helps in overall development of students and the role it plays in building a strong and healthy society. He further added that the university will continue to invest in sports and provide necessary support to the teams to excel in their respective fields.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations Department,
Government College University (GCU)
Squash Complex, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-000-010 Ext: 296
Tel: +92-42-99213343
Cell: +92-321-8440769
Email: registrar@gcu.edu.pk
Website: http://www.gcu.edu.pk

Lahore, January 18, 2023 (PPI-OT):A seminar was held on Wednesday here at Government College University (GCU) Lahore to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on inequality and the role of wealth tax. Economic experts and academics emphasized the need for gender equality and stressed that Pakistan cannot progress without it.

The seminar, organized by the Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee in collaboration with the South Asia Alliance for Poverty Alleviation (SAAPE) and Oxfam International, brought together experts to examine the findings of the newly-released book, “Implications of COVID-19 on Economic Inequality in Asia” and the report “Tax Wealth Now.”

In his opening address, GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi congratulated Oxfam on the publication of the book, calling upon students of Economics and Sociology to study its findings. He stressed that understanding the implications of COVID-19 on economic inequality in Asia is vital for developing effective solutions to address the ongoing impacts of the pandemic on society. He highlighted the efforts that GCU has made to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Mustafa Talpur, 67% of the wealth created in the world in two years was earned by 1% of the rich class, while 99% of people only received 37% of it. Mustafa Talpur highlighted the digital divide, where students without access to quality technology were unable to continue their education during the pandemic.

Dr. Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director of the Institute of Business Administration Karachi, stated that poverty and inequality are two different things, and that inequality has increased globally. He identified the main causes of inequality in Pakistan as gender bias and power structure inequality.

Dr. Abid Aman Barki, Professor at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), said that there is no specific scale to measure inequality yet and that it is a global problem that has been ongoing for several hundred years. He emphasized that European countries have successfully overcome inequality by taxing inheritance and wealth, and that inequality has particularly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The General Secretary of Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee, Farooq Tariq, also spoke at the seminar, highlighting how inflation and food crisis have increased in Pakistan as a result of the pandemic. He criticized the government for providing incentives, tax breaks, and tax amnesty to the rich while the poor struggle with poverty and inflation. He further said that after poverty and inflation, further destruction in Pakistan was caused by climate change.

Professor Ayesha Ahmed of Universal College Lahore stated that the poor are disproportionately affected by taxes, particularly indirect taxes, and that the wealthy are able to avoid taxes through political connections. She also pointed out that the wealthy often resist efforts to implement wealth taxes, arguing that it harms the economy. IT University Lahore Dean Fahad Ali also addressed the seminar.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations Department,
Government College University (GCU)
Squash Complex, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-000-010 Ext: 296
Tel: +92-42-99213343
Cell: +92-321-8440769
Email: registrar@gcu.edu.pk
Website: http://www.gcu.edu.pk