SARGODHA: The U.S. Consulate General Lahore Public Affairs Section, (PAS) in Pakistan, and Sargodha University (SU) extended cooperation to run a jointly established public information and activity center, the Lincoln Corner Sargodha (LCS).
In a virtual ceremony, the U.S. Consul General Catherine Rodriguez and the Vice Chancellor Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad inked an agreement to renew the Lincoln Corner partnership for the period of two years, April 2021 and April 2023.
Addressing the ceremony, CG Catherine Rodriguez informed “Lincoln Corners in Pakistan provide a platform for open dialogue between Pakistanis and Americans, promote mutual understanding, build prosperity, and strengthen people-to-people ties through various programs. With this renovation and resource up-gradation, the Corner will help preparing the next generation to fully participate in Pakistan’s prosperity.” She added.
On the occasion, Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad said that the LCS provides state of the art resources and opportunities for learning and career development to the students of Sargodha University and the youth of the region. “Sargodha’s young adults, through various sessions conducted by LCS, are now able to get themselves equipped with a variety of competitive skills. The newly renovated and expanded Corner is a vibrant center for student interaction, learning, dialogue, and creative thinking” Dr Ihtiaq further said.
According to the agreement, the Embassy select and purchase new print and electronic resources for inclusion in the Corner’s collection on topics related to bilateral interests, including but not limited to: Economics, Management, Business, American Studies, Literature, English Teaching, English Language, Politics, Law, and Democratic Societies, chosen to reflect the embassy’s and the University’s target user groups. The University will pay the maintenance and utilities costs for the space occupied by the Corner.
At the embassy’s discretion and with the SU’s concurrence, the Embassy also intends to provide training and consultations for Corner staff. When and if possible, the Embassy intends to provide funds for travel, a daily allowance (per diem), and lodging cost for the Corner staff to attend Embassy-sponsored training programs at locations in other cities.
The Corner will conduct US speaker programs including cultural events, educational exchange programs, and alumni activities, provide coordination and information concerning similar embassy sponsored activities.
The LCS Focal person Dr Ijaz Asghar Bhatti believes that with the expansion and renovation of the Corner, Pak-US friendship would grow further by utilizing the dynamic potential of students as our friendship with the US was based on education and research. He underlined the importance of such inter-linking relations between the East and the West, which according to him, could not progress without mutual academic and educational cooperation.
It is pertinent to mention here that the LCS was established at Sargodha University in 2012.
