ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Friday inaugurated three research centres at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) and performing ground breaking of building of Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).

The three centres are Pakistan China Joint Research Centre, Pakistan China Joint Research Centre on Earth Sciences and Dr AQ Khan Institute of Material and Emergency Sciences.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC)-sponsored centres had been approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP), were formally launched at a ceremony held at the QAU which was attended among others by QAU Vice Chancellor Dr Niaz Ahmad, Chinese officials and faculty and students of the university.

Speaking on the occasion, planning minister said that these centres would play a key role in producing world-class researchers.

He said these projects remained pending for the last four years but the incumbent government ensured their launch.

The minister said Pakistan China Joint Research Centre would play a vital role in producing researchers who would prove to be beneficial in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

The incumbent government, the minister, had revived the CPEC projects which remained neglected by the previous government, highlighting several initiatives taken by the government that came into power in April 2022.

Launching of fund for OOSC

Mr Iqbal launched Rs 25 Billion Performance-based Challenge Fund for Out-of-School Children (OOSC) and Early Childhood Education. According to a press release, in a groundbreaking effort to address the challenges of out-of-school children and enhance early childhood education, planning minister officially inaugurated the Rs. 25 Billion Performance-based Challenge Fund.

The launching ceremony, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training took place in Islamabad.

Mr Iqbal highlighted the critical importance of ensuring stability and continuity of policies in the country’s development agenda.

He emphasized the need to differentiate between political changes and the national agenda, urging all stakeholders to work together for the betterment of the nation.”

Our nation needs a charter of economy to ensure consistency and continuity in policies,” he said.

Published in Dawn, Aug 5th, 2023