Islamabad, 27 September 2012 (TDI): Higher Education cooperation between Pakistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs) was the focus of a video conferencing seminar held here at The Higher Education Commission(HEC) Islamabad, organized in connection with the 20th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and six Central Asian Republics (Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
This initiative was taken by The Diplomatic Insight in collaboration with the Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities Pakistan (IUCPSS), HEC. The aim of the seminar was to exchange ideas and build bridges for evolving new relationships in making headways for developing deep-rooted connections in sectors like the government to government contacts, science & technology, culture, trade, and economy with a special focus on exploring educational linkages among universities.
Expressing his views on the occasion, Prof. Dr. S. Sohail H. Naqvi Executive Director HEC said that Pakistan-Central Asia relations are based on geographical proximity, common history, culture, traditions, religion, values, and destiny. Pakistan and these Republics can work together and avail the expertise of one another in the areas of research, information technology, and scientific cooperation. This collaboration would be greatly helpful for the socio-economic development of the region.
He also suggested that Central Asian Republics can also benefit from the development made in the higher education sector in Pakistan during the last decade. He also shared the progress and development that occurred during the last ten years in the higher education sector of Pakistan. He thanked Muhammad Asif Noor, Editor-In-Chief of The Diplomatic Insight for taking such a step of making this connection between education institutions and the diplomatic community.
The Ambassadors and diplomats representing the missions from the Central Asian and Caucasian Republics also stressed the significance of the relationship with Pakistan. On the occasion, Mr. Dashgin Shikarov Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Dr. Ismatulla Fayzullaev, Chief of Mission Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr. Kubanychbek Toktorbaev, Deputy Head of Mission of the Kyrgyz Republic and Major Guvanch Orazov, Deputy Head of Mission of the Republic of Turkmenistan spoke and highlighted the relationship between Pakistan and Central Asia. They have also highlighted various opportunities that can be explored through bilateral cooperation.
The Ambassadors and diplomats also added that we can collaborate in numerous areas, such as scientific and technical fields, banking, insurance, pharmaceutical industry, tourism and media. The economies of Central Asian Republics and Pakistan are complementary to each other. There is cooperation in several spheres, notably, the war against terrorism, combating religious extremism and drug trafficking, and potential in transit trade.
The faculty and the students from IUCPSS member institutions from University of Gujrat, Government College University Faisalabad, Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur, University of Balochistan Quetta, Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, and COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Abbottabad participated lively through video conferencing and expressed their views over various aspects of the relationship
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