ISALAMABAD (NADEEM REPORT)
The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) inked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar to undertake joint research on technology related policy-making in the country.
Speaking at the signing ceremony here, Dr. Abid Suleri, Executive Director, SDPI, expressed the need for research to further development policies in the country. Citing the example of the telecom sector in Pakistan, he said that many developing countries are already using 4G technologies, while Pakistan is still struggling to get 3G.
There is a need to develop partnerships with higher education institutions so that cutting-edge research can be undertaken. Credible research, in turn, will strengthen the policy-making process for development in the country, he said. Praising the role of UET Peshawar in higher and professional education, Dr. Suleri said graduates of the university hold respectable positions in technical fields around the world.
Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani, Vice Chancellor, UET Peshawar, said the role of universities has grown beyond academic activities alone and there is a need for academic input in the policy-making process. This is a welcoming development for the country. He said UET Peshawar houses faculty with technical expertise in their respective fields. The faculty members are actively engaged not just in teaching but also in research and development activities at the University.
He said UET Peshawar is the fourth most advanced university in the world with research expertise in prediction of earthquakes. Moreover, the university has already developed earthquake and electricity codes. He said SDPI-UET Peshawar partnership would help nourish a culture of healthy research in the country, which will eventually facilitate effective policy-making.
Also present at the occasion Shafqat Kakakhel, Chairperson Board of Governors, SDPI. He welcomed the MoU between the two credible institutes, saying that emerging development challenges such as climate change will require adoption and development of modern technological solutions. Arshad Abbasi, Energy Advisor, SDPI also praised the MoU, specifically in the context of research needs to address the country’s energy problems.