ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani on Monday said that Pakistan needs to restore academic freedom to its colleges and universities so that students can enjoy productive environment which is must for confidence.
He made these remarks while speaking as Chief Guest at the inaugural session of a three-day workshop of Sindh-Hainan universities forum under China-Pakistan partnership programme by Madrassatul Islam University, Karachi.
He said that if Pakistani students are given conducive environment for reaching their potential they can help Pakistan in becoming the leading academic nation of the world.
Rabbani said that the deep relationship between Pakistan and China go back to the time when Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Chairman Mao Zi Tung and Chinese Premier Chu En Lai sat together and built this relationship based on principles of expansionism to strengthen both countries economically and in defense of its people and resources.
He further said that in Asia, “We share a common experience, common culture and common history even in presence of diversity.”
Praising the concept of this workshop among universities of Sindh and Chinese province Hainan, Chairman Senate said that this initiative of looking towards universities of Asia rather than following the old practice of taking assistance from West deserves felicitation.
Rabbani said that autonomy to universities is very important and also stressed on developing linkages between academia and other state institutions.
He also referred to a number of initiatives undertaken by Senate to develop such linkages through MOUs between Senate and eight federal universities, parliamentary visits and clerks of the Parliament programme.
