LAHORE: (Friday, December 29, 2023): Karakoram International University Vice Chancellor Eng Prof Dr Attaullah Shah met with the Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood to strengthen academic ties. The discussions between both leaders centered on exploring diverse avenues of collaboration, encompassing faculty exchanges, educational trips for PU students during summer and KIU students during winter and other modalities of academic interchange. A pivotal outcome of this meeting was the mutual agreement to facilitate a visit by select faculty members from PU to KIU in the summer of 2024. This visit aims to conduct a comprehensive workshop for the faculty and MPhil / PhD scholars at KIU fostering a robust academic exchange. This meeting marks a progressive continuation of the collaboration between PU and KIU. The initial phase included a visit by KIU Book Club students. During this visit, 30 students, both male and female, engaged in a meaningful academic exchange, culminating in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Dr Akhlaque and PU Chief Librarian Dr Haroon Usmani. Both institutions expressed their commitment to formalize a prospective MoU in the near future, recognizing the strategic importance of such collaborations. Additionally, discussions encompassed the significance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and explored possibilities for developing higher education projects in conjunction with it. To spearhead the preparation of the forthcoming MoU, Dr Waheed Akhlaque, a former faculty member of Punjab University’s Centre for South Asian Studies, was announced as the designated focal person by the VC of KIU. Both the VCs also acknowledged Dr Shahzeb Khan’s assistance in strengthening the ties between the two institutions. The VC of KIU also presented his book ‘Pakistan-China Relations: Reflections of 70 Years of Diplomatic History’ to PU VC Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood and to Dr Shahzeb Khan. As these academic institutions move forward in their collaborative efforts, the shared vision is to enhance educational opportunities, promote scholarly exchange, and contribute meaningfully to the academic landscape of both universities.