LAHORE: The Government College University (GCU) is going to set up Vice Chancellor’s Web Portal as a formal communication channel between students and the varsity administration.

The portal is being set up to know about different issues being faced by the students and get their feedback over various initiatives taken by the varsity.

GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi announced the initiative at a seminar on “Peaceful Pakistan -- our right, our duty” held to commemorate the sacrifices rendered by the young martyrs of the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar. It was organised by GCU, in collaboration with the Inter University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences (IUCPSS) and Centre for Inclusive Governance.

He said the public including children and the armed forces had rendered incredible sacrifices for restoring peace in Pakistan and it was their sacred duty to promote tolerance and harmony.

The VC stressed on effective engagement of students on campuses in activities held by their various clubs and societies.

“Educationists are not against the students unions but they are just cautious that these energetic raw minds are not manipulated or exploited by political parties or any other organisation for their ulterior motives,” Prof Zaidi said.

He said the students could login on the web portal through their roll numbers and could give their feedback on different issues.

Punjab Minister for Higher Education Raja Yassir Humayun Sarfraz said no one would be allowed to disrupt the academic environment of the universities.

He said the government was providing full backing to vice-chancellors for depoliticising the campuses.

The minister in detail discussed history of violence in student unions because of intervention of religious and political parties.

He also underlined importance of campus-based students’ societies and clubs for effective engagement of students in various co-curricular and healthy activities.

MPA Sadia Sohail Rana, University of Narowal VC Dr Tariq Mehmood, University of Lahore Pro Rector Dr Rauf-i-Azam, journalist Mubashir Bukhari and IUCPSS National Coordinator Murtaza Noor highlighted the achievements of the National Action Plan (NAP) and the role of higher education institutions in promoting values of peace, tolerance, co-existence and interfaith harmony among the students.

Earlier, the students of GCU Nazir Hussain Music Society, Debating Society and Dramatic Club through their performances and speeches paid homage to the teachers, students and employees of Peshawar APS and vowed to carry forward their mission through rejecting extremist and negative tendencies.

Later, the minister planted a sapling on the GCU campus in the memory of martyrs of APS, Peshawar.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2020