'Pakistan and Iran are two great historic nations having 6,000 years old social, cultural, economic and religious ties. Both nations must benefit from one another's developed areas and research.' The Governor General, Khorsan Rizvi, Muhammad Javad Muhammadi Zadeh stated this in his special lecture on Pakistan-Iran relations at Punjab University on Thursday.
The Vice Chancellor, PU, Professor Dr Mujahid Kamran presided over the ceremony while Provincial Education Minister, Mujtaba Shujah-ur-Rehman and VC, Ferdowsi University, Professor Dr Ali Raza Ashori and a large number of students and teachers were present in the session.
Iranian Governor general said that his country is progressing in the fields of modern knowledge and Pakistani universities, were also contributing a great deal in this regard and now it was the time to benefit from the developed areas of one another.
'We can help progress and prosper one another by collaborating in the field of technology and exploiting the regional resources effectively. Both countries are rich with natural resources and we should focus on and benefit from this area especially,' he said. Furthermore, 'Europe had learned from us to make progress in knowledge on the basis of rationalism. During the middle age, knowledge was exported from these areas to Europe but in the 17th century, West became secular,' he added.
18th century saw revolution and change. The 19th century became the era of human and in the 20th century fascism and liberalism weakened and finished one by one, he maintained. He said that efforts were being made to break strong Muslim countries by promoting sectarianism and religious biased. Main objective behind all this was to stop Muslims from becoming a hurdle in the way of big powers' interest.
Further, the Iranian dignitary said that in Ghaza, Israel is killing innocent, unarmed Palestinian civilians, but international powers are silent. Today's world technology is a mean of dominance, he said adding that it was the duty of Muslims students, teachers and researchers to contribute to their respective fields because, Muslims had been the centre of knowledge and learning over the centuries.
'Pakistan-Iran relations are also based on our common literature and common heroes like Iqbal, who is a binding force between the two countries,' he said Iqbal's progressive theory made him a Muslim leader, who gave a strong message to the Muslim youth. PU VC presented rich tributes to the visiting Iranian delegation and especially to the Governor General, for raising thought provoking views.
He urged the students to focus on their studies and research and exploit all their talent and abilities to develop the field of education and research. Meanwhile, PU and Ferdowsi University has signed a MoU for students, teachers and resources exchange and academic and research collaboration. PU VC and VC, Iranian Ferdowsi University signed the MoU on the PU New Campus on Thursday.
Kharasan Governor General, Ferdowsi University Director, International Relations, Dr Abedin Vahedian, PU External Linkages Director, Professor Dr Najma Najam, Deans of faculties and principal officers were also present on the occasion. According to the MoU, both universities shall offer grant of scholarship to five qualified students nominated by the varsities.
Both the varsities will offer one-month summer school to 10 students from Pakistan in Persian language to be carried out by Ferdowsi University in lieu of the similar opportunity for 10 Iranian students studying English to be carried out by PU. Both sides shall organise a faculty tour for 10 academic board members of each for exploring research activities and opportunities available at both sides.
Iranian varsity will nominate on academic member to PU to teach Persian language at postgraduate and PhD levels for a period of two years. The MoU further aims at exchanging academic staff, researchers and students in the field of mutual interest. Both the varsities will co-operate in research publication, curriculum development and promotion of joint research projects. Both the institutions will also organise joint symposia, workshops and conferences in areas of their expertise.
Both the universities will work on exchanging scientific publications, journals, prospectus, textbooks, course outlines, reference material and online resources. The agreement has been signed for a period of five years.