Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz Monday said that Pakistan desires to resume dialogue with India for resolving all outstanding issue peacefully. He stated this while inaugurating the 10th meeting of the Committee of Heads of University Grants Commission/ Equivalent Bodies of South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) Member States. He said Pakistan is a peace loving country and stands by its position to resolve all outstanding issues with India through dialogue.
He said Pakistan desires to resume dialogue with India with particular focus on resolving Kashmir and water issues, adding the recent statements of Indian leadership reflects their war phobia. He said Pakistan will also raise these issues on the platform of Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) meeting in Jeddah today (Tuesday). He said that the meeting of the foreign Ministers of OIC will also discuss the situation in Yemen and its dispute with Saudi Arabia besides the issue of Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar.
Aziz also welcomed delegates from Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka, to Pakistan. He congratulated the HEC for its untiring efforts for successfully arranging the event under the umbrella of SAARC. He said Pakistan as a founding member of SAARC Pakistan is committed to the principles and objectives enshrined in SAARC's principal charter, its social charter and its development goals.
He said over the years Pakistan has contributed to the efforts and took major steps to advance SAARC ideals and objectives. He said that Pakistan is fully participative in SAARC processes for the social uplift, poverty alleviation, climate change, food and energy co-operation, intra-regional trade, cultural development, economic integration, regional connectivity, health, education, women empowerment, child welfare, terrorism and anti-narcotics.
Aziz said that Pakistan attaches high importance to SAARC, which is an effective vehicle to promote regional peace, stability, economic prosperity and progress for the 1.7 billion people. He pointed out that approximately 40 percent of the population of our region is under the age of 18 which makes this region one of most dynamic and energetic regions of the globe, thus opening an enormous window of opportunity for the higher education sector.
He highlighted the overall assessment in the field of education and literacy and pointed out that higher education cannot be isolated from the preceding levels of education that is quality of primary and secondary education. He said that improvement in quality at all levels of education is essential or there would be a mismatch. He also highlighted the progress made since the inception of the Higher Education Commission. He also shared the government's fee reimbursement schemes for students of less developed areas, technological readiness through provision of laptops for 100,000 students nation-wide and Youth Internship programme.
He dwelt on the comprehensive Vision 2025 for economic and social development aims to focus on the goal for achieving knowledge-based economy. The meeting then witnessed selection of Pakistan as Chair of the Committee. Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Chairman HEC took charge as Chairperson of the Committee UGC/ Equivalent Bodies.
While appreciating the outgoing chairperson in his opening address, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed expressed his pleasure at hosting the event in Pakistan and said that for countries to develop investing in education is a basic requirement. He stressed that the SAARC countries faced similar challenges regarding collaboration and co-operation in research and development, which could prove beneficial to all.
He said it was necessary to use this forum and use education diplomacy to achieve the results of the Millennium Development Goals that have yet to be achieved. He shared plans to make the Committee a forum that would show tangible results in the field of higher education.
Professor Hamidullah Amin, President of Private Universities, Ministry of Higher Eduation , represented Afghanistan, Dr Muhammad Mohabbat Khan Member University Grants Commission represented Bangladesh, Tshewang Tandin from Bhutan, Ms. Fatimath Amira from Maldives, Dr Parashar Prasad Koirala, Chairman University Grants Commission, Nepal Professor, Ved Prakah, Chairman UGC India and Professor Mohan De Silva , Chairman UGC Sri Lanka expressed their confidence in the new Chairperson to fulfil the aims for enhanced co-operation between member states.
Later sessions discussed the initiatives that can be taken by heads of HECs/UGCs in respect to mutual recognition of degrees, establishing contacts in research and teaching, achieving common regional education standard, co-operating in quality assurance and accreditation mechanism, harmonising curriculum of member states and co-operation in open and distant learning. The need to strengthen the mechanism and promote research for applied solutions was also stressed.
Earlier in the meeting, Y.K.A Rohan Aijith, Director SAARC Secretariat, shared the message of Arjan Bahadur Thapar, Secretary General SAARC. He presented the brief history of the meetings of the Committee of Heads of University Grants Commission/ Equivalent Bodies of SAARC member states.
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