PESHAWAR: French Ambassador to Pakistan Martine Dorance on Tuesday visited the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Peshawar here on Tuesday.

She was accompanied by Oliver Huynh Van, cooperation attaché, and Mr Adrai. On her arrival, she was welcomed by students and staff of the university and was briefed about achievements and successes of the university since its inception which was appreciated by the French diplomat.

Ms Dorance lauded efforts made by the vice chancellor and her team in establishing a secure and fully loaded campus for the students. She was also briefed about the future plans for betterment of the university environment.

On the occasion, VC Prof Razia Sultana, said the varsity was focusing on providing more and more opportunities to students by initiating and expanding more disciplines. She called for a formal collaboration between the university and the French government so that programmes like student semester exchange, faculty development and graduate employment and post-doctorate opportunities could be initiated.

Ms Dorance acknowledged the role of the varsity in contributing for betterment of women of KP. She said: “I’m delighted to visit this university as it holds a very special place in promoting awareness and opportunities for females of this province.”

She said that it was her utmost desire to visit this university and know about the efforts being made for betterment of women of the province.

“I’ll talk to your government officials and my own government officials to see how we can collaborate in terms of promoting higher education.”

She said: “Mr Oliver Huynh Van, the cooperation attaché, will be visiting the university more often to see which programme we can mutually decide together.”

She said that her government was working closely with the Higher Education Commission as her country received students every year from Pakistan which would continue in future as well.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2017