Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan Institute of Engineering Education and Research would be established in collaboration with the UAE government at the Faisalabad campus of University of Engineering and Technology. Punjab Governor Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool (Retd) chaired a meeting here on Monday to review the details of the required faculty and laboratory equipment in the proposed institute. Vice-chancellor University of Engineering and Technology.

Lieutenant General Muhammad Akram (Retd), while briefing the participants of the meeting, said that an amount of Rs 310 million has been allocated for the procurement of land in Faisalabad, while the faculty development programme will be implemented at a cost of Rs 1.5 billion, he added. The UAE government would provide most modern equipment worth 17 million dollars for the institute's laboratory, he disclosed.

TAJIK TEAM: Meanwhile, a businessmen delegation from Tajikistan, led by Soghad province Deputy Governor Boby Shoukat, called on the governor Punjab here on Monday. The office-bearers of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry were also present on the occasion.

The governor maintained that promotion of economic co-operation and cultural relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan is a positive development. Durable peace in Afghanistan would help opening of trade gateways in entire Central Asian states as well as Pakistan.

"Central Asia, Pakistan, India, Burma, Thailand would be industrial hub in the days to come and we have to meet the future challenges collectively," he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005