HEC forms working group

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has constituted a working group of 15 universities from all over Pakistan to introduce the concept of Green Campus in Pakistani universities to achieve the objectives of World Environment Day 2018.

The Commission has received nominations for representation of respective institutions. The representatives of six universities, including University of Karachi, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Bahauddin Zakaria University Multan, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, University of Lahore, and IBA Sukkur are mainly participating in implementation of Green Campus Framework.

According to HEC director (Media) Aayesha Ikram, HEC organised a consultative meeting of the working group of 15 universities to deliberate on UI Green Metric World University Ranking on the World Environment Day 2018 on Tuesday

The consultative meeting was held to draw attention of the higher education institutions of the country to look and self-assess their policies and direction in relation with efforts to combat global climate change.

It was agreed to organize a National Workshop on July 9, 2018 in collaboration with UI Green Metic World University Ranking and all the universities of Pakistan will be invited to participate.

HEC executive director Dr Arshad Ali chaired the workshop, while member Operations and Planning Dr G Raza Bhatti, Economic Cooperation Organisation Science Foundation (ECOSF) president Dr Manzoor Soomro and other senior HEC experts were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Arshad Ali said HEC will set up Green Office, the main coordinating unit that will coordinate with the higher education institutions of Pakistan. He maintained that the concept may help sort out solution to water crisis prevailing in Pakistan and other climate change challenges.

Dr G Raza Bhatti highlighted the significance of the World Environment Day 2018 theme 'Beat the Plastic Pollution'. He said the hazards of plastic use in daily life need to be disseminated so that the young generation may not only refuse the use of plastics, but can also influence their families to stop the use of plastic for safer and healthier living beings on the planet.