February 29, 2008	Friday	Safar 21, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 28: The University of Karachi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an Iranian institution of higher learning for a joint PhD programme, exchange of students, faculty and research material.

This was stated by the vice-chancellor of Karachi University, Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, after his return from a visit to Iran.

He said that the MoU had been signed with Iran’s University of Siestan-Balochistan.

Dr Pirzada said that both sides had expressed keen interest in the further enhancement of academic ties among the institutions of higher learning.

According to the KU vice-chancellor, the Pakistani delegation also visited the Firdousi University in Mashhad, various teachers’ training institutions and met senior academicians.

It was also agreed that departments of Urdu be established at the Firdousi University as well as the University of Siestan-Balochistan.

He said that the University of Karachi had also been offered by both the Iranian institutions to set up special sections to apprise their students of the undergraduate programmes being offered by Karachi University so that those interested might benefit from them.—APP