University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir & Aga Khan University to collaborate for advancements in Public Health
MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 13 (SABAH): In a significant development, the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK) and Aga Khan University (AKU) have agreed to collaborate closely, emphasizing mutual support in advancing public health initiatives.
The decision to collaborate was reached during a meeting at the City Campus of UAJK, where a high-level delegation of seven members from Aga Khan University (AKU) engaged with Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi.
The delegation from Aga Khan University, led by Professor Dr. Romina Iqbal, Head of the Department of Non-Communicable Diseases and Public Health Section, comprised key representatives including Assistant Prof. Dr. Bilal Ahmed Usmani, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and team of senior instructors Sabahat Naz, Dr. Mahrukh Zafar, Dr. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, and Assistant Manager of Continuing Education Programs Shahzad Darjawani. Additionally, the presence of Dr. Bashir-ur-Rehman Kanth, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Kashmir, added further expertise to the occasion.
The AKU delegates conveyed their eagerness to investigate collaborative opportunities, including the provision of faculty for teaching, training, and practical work facilities for UAJK students. Dr. Bashir Ur Rehman Kanth, the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at UAJK, provided a comprehensive overview of the background, progress, ongoing educational programs, achievements, and future strategies of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Kashmir.
During the meeting, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi briefed the delegation on the educational services, infrastructure, available resources, and challenges encountered by UAJK in the state. Underscoring his institution’s status as the oldest and largest university in the state, he emphasized its commitment to equipping students for future challenges through high-quality research and education.
Expressing gratitude for the visit and the expressed interest in collaboration, Prof. Dr. Kaleem Abbasi commended Aga Khan University for its exemplary medical and research services in the country. He assured full cooperation from UAJK and announced the initiation of a summer camp for faculty and students of Aga Khan University at the Neelum campus of UAJK. This camp aims to foster mutual relations between the faculties and students of both universities, creating avenues for further consolidation and cooperation.
The proposed summer camp will feature organized lectures and workshops for students and staff of Aga Khan University. Prof. Dr. Romina Iqbal and Assistant Prof. Dr. Bilal Ahmed Usmani from Aga Khan University commended the educational services of the UAJK in the state. They expressed appreciation for the proposal put forth by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi and conveyed gratitude for his efforts to fortify institutional links in the future, assuring their full cooperation.
The Aga Khan University delegation expressed profound interest in the ongoing programs of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at UAJK, pledging collaboration across various departments. This strategic partnership is poised to make a substantial contribution to advancements in public health and medical education in the region.