Professor Dr Asghar Zaidi, a distinguished academic, thought leader, policy expert, and provost of Lahore’s University of Management & Technology (UMT), in a candid discussion proposed language- and literature-based corridors with neighbors to improve relations.
“We must remember that Urdu Corridor or any other common language-based passage with neighbors can easily create a soft image of our nation besides understanding of other’s point of view,” he said while speaking at an interactive session on media, academia and industry linkages to promote research for innovation and sustainable development.
The interactive session was hosted by the Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC) at the Institute of Chemical Engineering of the Punjab University in Lahore. Media experts Dr Mujahid Mansoori and Dr Shafique Jallundhry also joined the session as guests of honor, and shared their thoughts on the topic.
As the vice chancellor of Lahore’s Government College University in 2021, Dr Asghar Zaidi proposed a ‘Literary Corridor’ to connect poets, writers and critics from Pakistan and India. “When we connect with other nations through writers, poets and intellectuals, we will be able to solve complications beyond territorial disputes,” he told the audience when asked about his idea to create good relations with neighbors.
“I always discuss and focus on intersection of higher education and technology and its transformative potential,” he said, and shared his vision and insights about University of Management & Technology, integration of teachers and students with artificial intelligence (AI), evolving landscape of education, and the role of academic collaboration in shaping future of learning.
Associate Professor of Journalism Studies Dr Shabbir Sarwar hosted the interactive session, while Institute of Education and Research (IER) Director Prof Dr Abdul Qayyum Chaudhry, School of Communication Studies Director Prof Dr Abida Ashraf, UMT’s School of Media and Communication Studies Dean Prof Dr Anjum Zia shared their thoughts on media, academia and industry linkages for innovation and sustainable development.
Department of Public Relations and Advertising Chairperson Associate Professor Dr Faiza Latif; Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology’s Industrial Liaison Coordinator Associate Professor Dr Yousuf Jamal; University of Lahore’s School of Media and Arts Chairperson Dr Frasat Rasool, journalists Mian Habib, Ahsan Raza, Muhsen Ali Turk, and Ali Arshad also shared their point of views on media, academia and industry linkages.
