MOU

The University of Sargodha (UoS) and the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Institute signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen academic and policy collaboration across the CAREC region.

Director of the CAREC Institute, Mr. Charymuhammet Shallyyev, and Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qaisar Abbas, signed the MoU, emphasizing a shared vision to enhance knowledge exchange and economic cooperation across Central Asia.

The signing ceremony was graced by Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh and Chairman of the Higher Education Commission, Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed. The agreement aims to leverage joint expertise in research, capacity building, and policy development to promote shared prosperity and regional integration.

Key areas of collaboration include joint studies on the digital economy and sustainable development, co-hosting of conferences and webinars, faculty exchange programs, student internships at the CAREC Institute, and the publication of policy briefs. The partnership will also support data sharing and broaden access to research databases within the 11-member CAREC bloc, which includes Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, and several Central Asian states.

Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh emphasized that Pakistan holds immense potential, which can be unlocked through visionary reforms and strong investor facilitation. He stated that the government is making all-out efforts to promote both domestic and foreign investment and to simplify trade procedures. Highlighting the benefits available in Special Economic Zones (SEZs), he encouraged the business community to take advantage of incentives such as zero duty on imported machinery and a 10-year income tax holiday.

Chairman Higher Education Commission, Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, expressed his appreciation for hosting the international conference in Pakistan. He remarked, “Pakistan is a safe, peaceful, and hospitable country, and events like this help correcting misconceptions about our nation. Welcoming international scholars and delegates is a powerful way to showcase Pakistan’s true image to the world.”

Prof. Dr. Qaisar Abbas said “By joining hands with the CAREC Institute, we aim to foster collaborative research, promote knowledge exchange, and contribute to evidence-based policy development that supports sustainable growth and economic integration across the CAREC region.”