OKARA: The Academic Council of the University of Okara (UO), in its 7th annual meeting, chaired by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Zakria Zakar, approved eight new disciplines.

These new disciplines are Department of Educational Planning and Management, Department of Educational Studies, Department of Industrial Physics, Department of Computational Physics, Department of Nanotechnology, Department of Data Science, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Centre for Nanoscience and Centre for Water Research.

The meeting was moderated by Secretary/Additional Registrar Academics Professor Dr Khalid Saleem.

In his opening note, Dr Zakar stressed the need for quick transformation from traditional teaching methods to teaching through the advanced information and communication technologies. He said intelligent use of technology for teaching was need of the hour due to various public health hazards and infrastructural problems involved in on-campus education.

“We have to move on from traditional university to smart university as the wheel of learning needs to continue in any type of circumstances. We are also working to maximise our outreach to the technologically deprived students,” said the VC.

The academic council also deliberated on the schemes of studies of various degree programmes and declared that all departments would follow the guidelines of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in all academic matters.

The UO Admission Committee meeting, chaired by Dr Muhammad Wajid, decided to announce the Admissions Fall 2020 in the first week of July.

ARRESTED: A revenue patwari nominated in a corruption case was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE).

Patwari Muhammad Nazeer was booked in a corruption case worth Rs250,000 on Dec 2, 2019.

Two days back, the high-ups of the Divisional ACE approved his arrest for the legal proceedings in the competent court of law.

OBITUARY: A senior press photographer, Tariq Ali Bhutto, passed away after a prolonged illness here on Thursday. He was 75.

He is survived by two sons and as many daughters.

Late Bhutto worked for almost all urdu dailies during his long career.He had a long association with the Pakistan People’s Party.

His funeral prayers were attended by a large number of people from all walks of life.He was laid to rest at Kot Amir Ali Shah graveyard.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2020