Punjab University's newly appointed Vice Chancellor Professor Muhammad Zakria Zakar has said that high quality research is mandatory for academic excellence of the university. He said that the administration would extend maximum financial resources and administrative support to the faculty for their research projects. He was chairing a meeting of deans and principals at committee room of Vice Chancellor's office here on Tuesday after taking charge of his office. Addressing the meeting, Dr Zakria Zakar said that the administration would ensure cent percent transparency in all matters and would practically deliver. He said that the administration would utilize all the resources for welfare of students.

The deans and principals welcomed Dr Zakar and appreciated Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for taking the best decision of his appointment in the interest of country's oldest university. According to press statement, Dr Muhammad Zakria Zakar is the Professor of Sociology and Dean of Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences. Dr Zakar earned his doctorate from Germany and won various prestigious international research awards including Fullbright Postdoctoral Fellowship (Stony Brook University, USA), UNESCO award on poverty reduction, Robert McNamara Fellowship, and Alexander von Humoldt Postdoctoral Fellowship (Germany). Dr Zakar was also DAAD Guest-Professor at the Department of Public Health Medicine, University of Bielefeld, Germany from 2010 to 2012. His research interests include violence and conflict in developing countries, sociology of health and illness, involuntary displacement and resettlement, gender and development, sociology of religion, health and human rights. He has published more than 60 research papers in international impact factor journals. In recognition of his excellent teaching and research contributions, Government of Pakistan has conferred upon him "Presidential Pride of Performance" in 2015.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018