NPC, ISSRA sign MoU for academic & research collaboration, joint ventures
Gauhar Malik welcomes collaboration with NDU in preparing youth for future challenges
The Institute of Strategic Studies, Research & Analysis (ISSRA), a think tank working under the National Defence University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nazriya Pakistan Council (NPC) on Wednesday to undertake join ventures and to enhance existing friendly relations between the two organizations.
The MoU signing ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Quaid, Fatima Jinnah Park. Chairperson of the NPC’s Taleem Network Pakistan (TNP) Senator RazinaAlam Khan and Director Collaboration, ISSRA, Commodore FarooqIqbalKhattak signed the document.
Executive Secretary of the NPC, MrGauharZahid Malik, members of the NPC Executive Committee including NargisNasir, AmbSalahuddinChaudhry and ISSRA’s Focal Person, MajHamzaTahir were also present on the occasion. Under the MoU, both NPC and ISSRA will jointly undertake academic and research collaboration.
On the occasion, Commodore FarooqKhattak briefed the audience about ISSRA which is a national security think tank by providing policy input to the government and military, analyzing current security issues, and interacting with other research organizations.
ISSRA’s roles, he said, include promoting understanding of national security through research and publications. Currently there are around six journals that ISSRA periodically publishes on regional and international security issues, academic and research topics, etc. ISSRA, he said also contributes to intellectual discourse and policy formulation at both the national and international levels.
About the upcoming collaboration with NPC, Commodore FarooqKhattak expressed the hope that it would be beneficial for both the organization as the NPC is doing a great job by inculcating ideology and patriotism among the youth of Pakistan. MrGauhar Malik expressed his appreciation of ISSRA’s contributions. He briefed the audience about various projects undertaken by the NPC. In order to inculcate spirit of patriotism in youth and to motivate them, the NPC keeps organizing the National Days such as Intendance Day (Aug 14), Pakistan Resolution Day (March 23), Iqbal Day (Nov 9) Quaid’s Birth Anniversary (Dec 25) which is also Christmas to express solidarity with Christians, Quaid’s Death Anniversary (Sep 11). NPC also organizes ceremonies to present awards to the top scoring students in schools and colleges and acknowledges contributions of the heroes and daughters of Pakistan.
He particularly mentioned the TNP which aims at imparting education to disadvantaged segment of society, the Out Of School Children (OOSC). Under the TNP non-formal schools are being set up to provide education to these OOSC who could not attend schools for one reason or the other, he said. Pakistan’s future, he said belonged to the youth and it is our collective responsibility to focus on our youth’s character-building and upbringing as responsible citizens of Pakistan.
TNP Chairperson Senator RazinaAlam Khan on the occasion said TNP was working under the vision of late Zahid Malik the founder chairman of the NPC. She told the audience that TNP’s two schools were already functioning successfully in MehraAbadi (G-12) and BharaKahu. At these schools we complete the primary level schooling of the OOSC in three years and then provide them skill training for respectable earning in society. Vocational training and skill learning are the integral part of these non-formal schools, she said.
