The European Union (EU) has allocated 39 million euros for education projects in Sindh province as a grant. The Government of Pakistan would also provide an equal amount to match the EU grant.
This was stated by the First Counsellor Finance of the European Union to Pakistan, Emmanuel Mersch while talking to newsmen after inauguration of 'The EU Corner' at Area Study Centre for Europe (ASCE), University of Karachi here on Thursday.
He said the efforts of European Union over Iranian nuclear issue has paved the way for Iran to resume dialogue that would greatly help the international community in resolving the issue.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Emmanuel Mersch said the purpose of establishing the EU corner was to improve the visibility of the EU presence in Pakistan by targeting the future policy makers of the country.
Karachi University was the first to receive the EU attention to establish such a corner in its library. The success of the EU corner at Karachi University would be replicated in the libraries of Hamdard University (Karachi), Punjab University (Lahore), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and Peshawar University.
By establishing a corner of ASCE was to enhance its capacity to promptly highlight the developments in the EU in various fields and also to help students and researchers to keep abreast with the recent EU's activities, he added.
The EU has sponsored a European Study Programme to ASCE from 1998 to 2004 was aimed to enhancing the library with material inputs and books provided by the project through the University of Brescia which was the technical assistance in the programme. The ASCE benefits about 30 students in all semester on full time European studies.
'Jean Monnet Chair' in political science was awarded to the director of the ASCE, Mersch pointed out. In addition to the establishment of EU corner, the delegation also provided the opportunities to the ASCE director and two faculty members to visit Brussels under its EUVP programme.
He also donated 25 English language books on EU related subjects and two computers to the library for the EU corner. Vice Chancellor of Karachi University, Professor Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqi said, "The EU member-states as we all know are among Pakistan's most important trading partners". Pakistan and the European Union have recently signed a third generation co-operation agreement, which has set important goals and means for enhancing relations between the two sides.
He said, the EU is striving to develop a high profile in international affairs, commensurate with its economic clout. There have been successes and failures in this regard, but the European Union is a strong and fairly united bloc of countries, which has an impressive presence in the international arena.
He said, the ASCE focuses its study on the economic, political, social and security aspects of Europe and its embodiment the European Union -a bloc now comprising 25 nations, with a single market, common EU citizenship and a single currency. The EU is a unique entity, which has no counterpart in the contemporary world. A large number of students and KU staff were present on the occasion to witness the ceremony.