PESHAWAR: The University of Peshawar is all set to launch the first ever forensic psychology classes in the country.

The professional courses offered in the programme would enable the legal fraternity to understand fundamental legal principles with regard to expert witness and other areas of courts proceedings.

This was revealed by Chairman of the Department of Psychology Professor Mohammad Jehanzeb at the inaugural ceremony of the new BS Psychology Block at the University of Peshawar, according to a press release issued by the UoP here on Tuesday.

The BS Block and Assessment, Counseling Centre has been constructed at a cost of 42 million rupees in a short span of one year for which funds has been provided by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. The double story building consists of four class rooms, two laboratories and ten counseling chambers, said the press release.

UoP Vice Chancellor Professor Mohammad Rasul Jan inaugurated the Block in a ceremony. He was accompanied by Dean Faculties and teaching staff of the Department of Psychology.

Addressing the ceremony, VC Professor Rasul Jan said that Department of Psychology since its inception in 1942 had been producing excellent professionals of the field. This was why its graduates had outnumbered other relevant departments in the civil and military services of the country. He added that in the prevailing situation the role of a psychologists had become more imminent as the traumatized people of the country needs counseling in order to avoid psychological disorders.

Dr. Jan appreciated the efforts of the Department of Psychology for launching professional programmes like counseling and assessment centers, clinical psychology and more importantly a trauma centre for the Journalists working in the field. He said that the counseling chambers shall be made open to public for psychological treatment and people of the terrorist hit areas shall be treated on priority.

Earlier, Chairman of the Department of Psychology Professor Mohammad Jehanzeb said up till now, the department had produced more than 50 PhDs while the number of MPhils was two times more than that.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2016