QUETTA: Iranian Consul General Aga Hassan Golivand Ravishand has called for enhancing cooperation and collaboration between educational institutions of Pakistan and Iran, saying it is the need of the hour.

He stated this in a meeting with Balochistan University Vice Chancellor Dr Shafiqur Rehman during a visit to the university along with an Iranian delegation on Friday. Other faculty members of the university were also present in the meeting.

Issues pertaining to Pakistan-Iran relations, joint efforts for promotion of educational and research activities and cooperation in future activities were discussed during the meeting.

Consul General Ravishand said Iran and Pakistan had cordial relations in various fields and steps were being taken by both sides to promote educational and research activities.

He said that since the borders of the two countries were interconnected, “we have to promote cooperation in various fields as much as possible and jointly formulate development projects and future programmes, including educational and research activities, because educational institutions play an important role in the development and betterment of any society”.

Vice Chancellor Rehman said the development of modern technology and the rapidly changing global scenario had changed the means of education and the world was moving towards digital learning. In the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, he added, educational and research activities and policies were being redesigned and “we also need to use higher and quality education in the development of our societies and discovery of useful human resources”.

“Pakistan and Iran are two important Islamic countries, which could benefit from each other’s experience and collaboration in various fields, including educational and research activities,” he said, adding that conferences, seminars and training programmes between higher educational institutions of the two countries should be promoted.

Dr Rehman said Balochistan University had ensured cooperation and mutual agreements with various higher educational institutions of Iran and would continue to jointly promote various educational projects in future.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2021