Groundbreaking of students’ societies centre at SALU

KHAIRPUR: The Groundbreaking Ceremony of USAID funded Students Societies Centre Building was held at Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, here Wednesday, says a Press release.
Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, the Advisor to Chief Minister on Universities & Boards addressed via Zoom App. Khuhro accorded his cordial thanks to the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Parveen Shah for inviting him on the eve of groundbreaking ceremony. He also accorded special thanks to Jim Prays, Director USAID for Sindh & Balochistan. Khuhro commended the untiring efforts of USAID. He said USAID has been very trusted partner of Govt. of Sindh over the years in the education sector where they have contributed to a number of projects including large scale contribution on campuses.
He said that in addition to this, more than 110 schools were established by the USAID in Sindh Province. “I am very pleased to know that in the same spirit USAID is funding the construction a much-needed students societies center at Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur which will provide a safe space for students to be engagement in co-curricular activities.”
He said, there is a grave need to engage students in positive activities on campuses to provided positive alternatives to devise and extremist narratives.
He said this is a good initiative taken by the USAID in order to engage students in positive narrative and activities.
Due to unavoidable circumstances and personal engagement of Vice Chancellor, the message of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Parveen Shah was readout by Prof. Dr. Taj Muhammad Lashari, Director Media & Public Relations. Dr. Parveen Shah in her message said that USAID Pakistan is generously supporting Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur. One project of Faculty of Education Building was provided by the USAID same is functioning in the state-of-art facilities.
Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur was the first University in the province which started the classes of Teacher Education. The building was inaugurated by former US Consulate General Brian Heath and Nisar Ahmed Khuhro. Dr. Parveen Shah said that the building will provide an ample opportunity to the students by organizing multidimensional positive activities.
The Vice Chancellor accorded her special thanks to USAID and Murtaza Noor, National Coordinator, Interuniversity Consortium for the Promotion of Social Sciences.
Ali Raza Muhammad, Deputy Chief of Party CRAS, DIA Pakistan said Student Societies Center for the student body that will be used for theatre performances, talks, workshops, meeting and student engagement sessions as well as other subsequent socio-cultural activities. The first floor will have 6 meeting spaces and the second floor will be an auditorium style space seating of 150 students. This will be a 10-month long project. Moreover, this space will be specifically used for student societies and clubs and will also be maintained by them where it is intended that the students will have more of a role to run it rather than the administration of the University.
The groundbreaking ceremony was performed by Prof. Dr. Mumtaz Hussain Mahar, Dean Faculty of Physical Sciences on behalf of the Vice Chancellor along with Muhammad Shoaib, Chief of Party, CRAS, DIA, Pakistan and Ali Raza Muhammad, Deputy Chief of Party CRAS, DIA Pakistan and Murtaza Noor, National Coordinator, Interuniversity Consortium for the Promotion of Social Sciences.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yousuf Khushk, Chairman, Academy of Letters, Islamabad and others representatives of USAID attended the inauguration ceremony via Zoom App.
Prof. Dr. Ghulam Abbas Shar, Dean Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Maqsood Zia Shah, Director Ghotki Campus, Murtaza Noor, National Coordinator, Interuniversity Consortium for the Promotion of Social Sciences, Mureed Hussain Ibopoto, Registrar, Prof. Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah, Sarfaraz Korejo, Engr. Ghulam Asghar Shaikh, Syed Muneer Shah and others attended the ceremony.
At the end, the shields were distributed among the guests and organizing committee.