Chairman, Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr Atta-ur-Rehman on Monday said with 5 million dollar financial support by the United States, digital libraries in almost all the universities of the country had been established.
These digital libraries enable students and researchers to access thousands of research journals free of cost.
He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Lincoln Corner Pakistan (LCP), established in the Central Library of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) by the United States' Embassy in Islamabad.
US Ambassador to Pakistan Ryan C Crooner and Dr Mahmood Ahmad Ghazi, President IIUI were also present.
Dr Atta-ur-Rahman appreciated the strengthening academic co-operation between Pakistan and the US and said the establishment of a Joint Commission on Education that was going to meet next month, would bring new dynamics to the academic ties between the two countries.
Mentioning the US support for Pakistan in the sector of higher education, Dr Atta said about 640 students from Pakistan were currently studying various subjects of science and technology in the United States.
He said the number of Pakistani students in American universities would increase substantially in near future.
Emphasising the importance of education especially for under-developed countries, Dr Atta said the way forward for Pakistan is not to build roads and complexes, but education, education and education.
Appreciating the IIUI efforts for making its central library one of the best in Pakistan, Dr Atta announced a grant of Rs 30 million for the Central Library of IIUI.
In his brief remarks, US Ambassador said the experience of integration of modern education with Islamic learning by the IIUI was an encouraging sign that there was no contradiction between the Islamic thought and modern education.
He said that Abraham Lincoln, like the Quaid-e-Azam, had a great impact on the legal system of the US.
Both the leaders left behind a tremendous heritage of law and strict abidance to rules and regulations, he added.
Dr Mahmood Ahmad Ghazi talked about the philosophy, objectives and academic programmes of the University and said IIUI might be one of the best examples of international co-operation in education where students and faculty from around the world had created a truly international academic environment.
He thanked the people and government of the US for the establishment of Lincoln Corner and said it would give an exposure to the students and researchers on the law, constitution and culture of the United States.
Located in the IIUI new campus at H-10 sector of Islamabad, the Lincoln Corner aims to promote friendship between the United States and Pakistan through multimedia resources, English language material, information about studying in the US, cultural activities and lectures of topics of interest to the people.
Books, magazines, access to computers, Internet, web cam and DVDs at the LCP will offer a 'window on America' and its people, history, geography, government and popular culture.
The Corner is a place to read about America and to exchange views and opinions with the Americans living in or visiting Pakistan.
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