ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday urged medical universities to focus on enrolling students in nursing programmes, as there is a need for more nurses in the country.

Chairing a Senate meeting at the Presidency for Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), he emphasised on the need to improve quality of education at medical universities, to encourage foreign students to apply. A source, who was present at the meeting, quoting the president said: “We need more qualified health workers to meet challenges like Covid-19 in the future.”

SZABMU Vice Chancellor Prof Tanwir Khaliq, gave a presentation about the university’s role in providing medical education.

The meeting endorsed minutes of the first Senate Committee and approved service rules for the university and its annual budget; nomination of two deans for the Syndicate from Senate and one member of Senate for the finance and planning committee was also agreed upon.

Highlighting the importance of research, Mr Alvi said: “Medical universities need to focus on research and produce quality medical graduates, to effectively combat challenges like Covid-19. The governing bodies of universities, like Senate and Syndicate, are required to ensure good governance in educational institutions.”

Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on CDA Ali Nawaz Awan, SZABMU Pro VC Prof Syeda Batool Mazhar, Controller of Examination Prof Tariq Iqbal, Senate members, senior medical professionals and principals from medical colleges were present at the meeting.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2020