MULTAN, Oct 19: The Bahauddin Zakariya University and the United Nations Development Programme have agreed to collaborate in various areas, including the National Urban Poverty Alleviation Programme.

A meeting was held early this month between BZU vice-chancellor Prof Dr Karamat Ali and UNDP resident representative in Pakistan Onder Yucer to explore areas where the two institutions could work together, especially with reference to the development initiatives in southern Punjab.

Later, the UNDP offered two seats to the BZU faculty members in the national steering committee of its Small Grants Programme. Furthermore, the UNDP asked the university to encourage its graduates to apply for the position of young professional in the NUPAP initiative that had just started its operation in Multan.

Appreciating the UNDP offers, the BZU VC nominated Prof Dr Shahnawaz Malik and Prof Dr Javed Iqbal Mirza for the membership of the SGP's committee and hoped that the university graduates would apply for the positions of young professionals at the NUPAP.

"The collaboration will go a long way in the development of one of the most under-developed areas of Pakistan," the VC observed in a letter written to the UNDP resident representative on Tuesday.