KARACHI, March 10: The promotion of knowledge about languages and understanding of cultures were necessary to realize the dreams of globalization.

These views were expressed by the speakers at a ceremony organized to mark the inaugural of 2004 courses at the Italian Language and Culture Centre, University of Karachi, on Wednesday. Successful students of two-year diploma and conversation courses were also awarded diplomas on the occasion.

The vice-chancellor of Karachi University, Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, who was the chief guest at the function, lauded the activities of the Italian language centre. He expressed hope that the dedication of staff and students as well as support from the Italian government would continue in future.

He observed that things were changing globally and as such the universities could not play their due role keeping themselves aloof of the latest developments.

Among other collaborative programmes, the universities should also develop facilities for learning languages, which would ultimately help understanding the whole area of language coming from, he added.

Speaking at the ceremony, Italian Consul-General Bruno A. Pasquino observed that Pakistan held a geo-strategic position in the region and as such the Italian government also wanted to enhance collaboration with it in the time to come.

"Very soon the governments of Italy and Pakistan will be signing a memorandum of understanding, following which exchange of scientists, teachers and students between both countries will be accelerated," he said. He mentioned that his government was already working for developing an archaeology museum at the University of Karachi.

The Dean of Arts Faculty, KU, Dr Abuzar Wajdi, said that problems of lingual, cultural and race diversity could be overcome only when the people from different nations would interact with each other.

The course in-charge and Italian cultural attache, Dr Laura Fioretta, informed the audience that in addition to the four language courses being conducted at the centre, the Italian Conversation Course had also been introduced enabling the students having completed the two-year course to improve their knowledge of Italian language and culture. A student of the centre, Muhammad Haroon, also spoke in Italian language on the occasion.