The China Study Center, University of Peshawar with the Collaboration of Pakistan China Friendship Association (PCFA) and Pakistan Development Foundation (PDF) organized a tree plantation ceremony as part of Pakistan and China Friendship Tree plantation drive to celebrate the 71st independence day of China.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Zahid Anwar, Director China Study Center spoke in detail about the all-weather Pakistan and China Friendship especially focused on cooperation between the two countries in the realm of higher education. Under CPEC in the last couple of years Chinese and Pakistani universities have launched many joint projects and programs. Many Pakistani research students in China under the guidance of their supervisors are publishing research papers in high impact factor journals. In 2018 China Embassy Islamabad donated Rs 2 million equipments to University of Peshawar through China Study Center. In 2019 China Embassy Islamabad gave Rs. 2 million scholarships to the deserving students of University of Peshawar through China Study Center. In 2020 China Embassy Islamabad gave Rs. 7 million scholarships through China Study Center for the deserving students of University of Peshawar. 80% of the scholarships will be given to Afghan students of the University, he added. He reiterated that this hand in hand march of China and Pakistan to a shared future will bring benefits to both societies. Prof. Dr. Mohammed Abid Vice-Chancellor University of Peshawar was the chief guest of the event but due to an emergency meeting he couldn’t participate
Secretary General Pak-China Friendship Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, Syed Ali Nawaz Gilani added that UOP is lucky to have a China Study Centre and appreciated the efforts of its Director for promoting China Study Center. He discussed how Pakistan and China Friendship Association came into existence and elaborated his efforts for promotion of China and Pakistan relationship. “We started the Pakistan and China Friendship Tree Plantation campaign on August 24th to express the strength of Pakistan and China relationship and we have planned to plant the Pakistan and China Friendship Tree at every city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We are happy to have full support of China Study Center, University of Peshawar in this regard,” Chairman Pakistan Development Foundation (PDF) Mr. Bilal Sethi of PDF added.
Chairman Department of Electronics Prof. Falak Naz Khalil was also present on the occasion and in his speech praised Prof Zahid Anwar for strengthening Chinese studies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and stated that his department will continue cooperation with China Study Center for organizing such events. Chairman of Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Prof. Dr. Fazal Ur Rehman, Dr. Nadir Ali, Dr. Noor, internees at China Study Center and many students of different departments attended the ceremony. In the end organizers of the event thanked the participants for their participation.
