MULTAN, Oct 31: The Bahauddin Zakariya University and the Model University College (HSM) of Norway have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish bilateral cooperation between the two institutions.

The MoU was signed by BZU VC Prof Dr Karamat Ali and HSM rector Martin Risnes. The cooperation between the two institutions will include a scheme for student exchange programme.

As a first step, the HSM is inviting applications from the graduates of the BZU's department of economics for the doctoral or master's degree programmes logistics financed by the quota scholarship programme funded through the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund.

The agreement is signed for a period of four years with the possibility of extension. In case of unilateral withdrawal from it by any of the parties, a six-month notice period will come in force.

The BZU VC has nominated assistant professor Umer Burki of the economics department as the linkage coordinator for the execution of the agreement singed with the HSM.

The HSM is among the 28 educational institutions of the Europe recently awarded the DS label of quality education by the European Commission from among the 1,800 institutions that impart education at the master's and doctoral level.

It may be added here that the BZU has recently signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme, under which the latter will give opportunity to the university's graduates in economics to be engaged as the young professionals in its (UNDP's) development schemes being carried out in Southern Punjab.

PUNJAB PA: Opposition member in the Punjab Assembly Dr Javed Siddiqui has criticized the provincial government for what, he alleged, meting out step-motherly treatment to south Punjab.

Speaking at a press conference, he alleged that the provincial government under the leadership of Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had been exhausting the development funds only for the improvement of Lahore and Gujrat.

He said suspension of vehicular traffic between Multan and Muzaffargarh had become a daily feature owing to the dilapidated bridge over the Chenab river while on the other hand the rulers had constructed three new bridges over same river in Gujrat.

Similarly, he added, seven new bridges would be constructed during the ongoing fiscal in upper Punjab, besides the construction of four underpasses and a ring road in Lahore.

The Chenab Bridge near Multan is an important link to facilitate inter-provincial traffic and it has generated revenues of about Rs1.5 billions as toll during the last four years, but it was still being ignored, he said.

The MPA said south Punjab was the agricultural headquarters of the country, but the provincial government was spending more funds for the improvement of the irrigation system in Lahore, Sialkot and Kasur areas.

He said the CM had announced allocation of Rs1 billion for the Multan Institute of Cardiology, but in reality Rs380 million were earmarked only for the project. All the new universities and medical colleges in the province, he said, were being set up in the areas that came under the geographical divide of central and upper Punjab.

The slot of the BZU VC had been ridiculed by conducting interviews after interviews to make appointment against it despite the fact that the university had several capable teachers to perform the duty.

He urged the provincial government to immediately allocate Rs1 billion for the availability of safe drinking water in Multan and construction of a proper sewerage system in the city. He also demanded lifting of ban on the allocation of development funds to the opposition members in the Punjab Assembly.