“Social Sciences Research is The Clue To Spell Out Our Identity As a Nation” Says Dr Nizamuddin

We have to set our house in order. Today Pakistani society stands fragmented which speaks of negligence and lack of research on social issues. Social Sciences are the weakest area in basic sciences in our academia. There is no good foundation of research culture in this field. We have to develop labs in communities, slums and villages to really know what Pakistani society is all about. We have to get going rigorously for sound, in depth social research on these issues. Then we have also to determine priorities of issues on social research. We need to hold dissertation workshops to upgrade the quality of our PhD scholars. Experienced professors from USA can help us in this field. We intend to hold the very first workshop of the consortium at UOG and explore all concurrent issues related to social sciences research. We need to form a National Social Sciences Research Council. These ideas were expressed by Prof Dr Mohammad Nizamuddin Chairperson National Committee on Development of Social Sciences HEC and Vice Chancellor University of Gujrat in his welcome address to the MOU signing ceremony between Inter University consortium for promotion of Social Sciences and Humanities in Pakistan (IUCPSS) and American Institute of Pakistan Studies (AIPS) at University of Gujrat. Mr Murtaza Noor focal person IUCPSS was the master of ceremonies. Addressing the audience, Dr Kamran Asdar Ali president AIPS expressed the need to mentor junior scholars by focusing on specific projects, granting fellowships, conducting workshops and exchange training programs. He lamented the pitiable state of affairs going on in Karachi fomenting from a plethora of unresolved urban issues. He offered seed money to hold workshops in Pakistani academia to explore and resolve devastating issues. He expressed the need to employ humanities, literature, art and craft in rescuing Pakistani body politic from the malaise suffering Pakistani society.

Mr Nadeem Akbar Director AIPS Pakistan explained the salient features of the MOU being signed and announced holding of workshops at member campuses of ICUPSS and early formation of National Social Sciences Research Council. He spelled out AIPS program of faculty and student exchange collaborative Research and holding Video Conferences on Social issues. Dr Muhammad Mukhtar Chairperson ICUPSS and Vice Chancellor the Islamia University of Bahawalpur in his speech expressed his happy surprise at beholding the fascinating UOG university town built up under the leadership of Dr Nizamuddin. He expressed the opinion that consortiums are the basis for the development of any science and that social interaction is the key to institutional development. Prof Dr Zakir Hussain Vice Chancellor Government College University Faisalabad expressed his joy at the ambience of UOG, appreciated the innovative departments like product design, Institute of Hotel and Restaurant Management and Radio Station, Initiated by Dr Nizam. He appreciated Dr Nizam’s dynamic role and attributed him to be the lynchpin of the consortium and a real asset. He opined that focus of social sciences research was very narrow which ought to be broadened. Dr Riaz Hussain Qureshi Advisor HEC, Islamabad appreciated the gigantic efforts made by Dr Nizam in building such an attractive campus with his dynamism, innovative skills and dedication. He regretted that social sciences in Pakistan have lagged behind and we need immense research to make a breakthrough in our social system. Social Sciences shall equip the Pakistani people to develop their identity as a nation. He expressed the need for females development and participation in national economy for faster growth. He expressed optimism that with international support through AIPS and firm backing of HEC social research is sure to harvest dividends for Pakistan.