SWAT: The University of Swat and Sri Lanka’s Nagananda International Institute for Buddhist Studies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote academic collaboration, student and faculty exchanges and joint research initiatives and preserve and study the Gandhara civilisation, particularly the Buddhist archaeological heritage of the Swat Valley.
The MoU was signed by University of Swat registrar Dr Arshad Ali Khan and Prof P.D. Mandawala on behalf of the Sri Lankan institution under the university’s Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation.
Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan Fred Seneviratne and University of Swat Vice-Chancellor Prof Hassan Amin were also present.
Prof Amin emphasised the need for sustainable and multifaceted academic cooperation between the two institutions. He said the Swat Valley was a unique blend of natural beauty and historical heritage.
“Swat is not only known as the Switzerland of the East for its scenic landscapes but is also the cradle of the Gandhara civilisation, which connected South Asia with Central Asia through knowledge, spirituality and art,” he said.
The VC said the agreement should not remain a merely formal or one-time initiative but should be developed into a long-term institutional partnership.
He said that could be achieved through regular exchanges of students and faculty members, joint archaeological excavations, collaborative research projects under joint supervision and the organisation of international conferences.
The VC said the scope of cooperation should also be extended beyond archaeology and Buddhist studies to include environmental sciences, biodiversity conservation, cultural tourism and sustainable development, as ancient civilisations and historic sites were increasingly facing challenges posed by climate change, environmental degradation and unsustainable tourism.
He said joint initiatives would help preserve the shared historical heritage and equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to address global challenges.
Prof Amin assured the Sri Lankan delegation of the University of Swat’s full administrative and academic support and expressed hope that the partnership would open new avenues of cooperation between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in education, research and cultural diplomacy.
Sri Lankan High Commissioner Fred Seneviratne thanked the University of Swat for its warm hospitality and stressed the importance of joint efforts to promote a peaceful environment for researchers, tourists and people of both countries.
Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2026
