SWABI, Dec 11: The French government and the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology on Monday agreed to launch joint research projects to boost collaboration in the field of engineering sciences.

The understanding was reached at a meeting a French delegation held with the academic staff of the GIK Institute.

The French delegation was led by Christian Thimonier and the GIK Institute team was led by its rector Dr Abdullah Sadiq.

The collaboration with French universities, exchange of faculty and students, stopover of the French academic staff at the GIKI while going to China, etc., also came under discussion.

At the meeting, Christian Thimonier said: “We are here to launch joint research projects and explore ways to facilitate exchange of faculty and students between the GIK Institute and French institutes.”

Dr Sadiq said that the French government had extended generous help when the GIK Institute was being launched.

About the French faculty, he said: “We want the French faculty to stay here for a long period.”

“The exchange of faculty and students would result in exchange of information on research,” said Christian Thimonier.

Dr Sadiq emphasised the need for working out a mechanism for a long-term partnership between Pakistan and France.