Chinese, Pakistani universities discuss establishment of “China-Pak Belt and Road Joint Laboratory for Smart Disaster Prevention of major Infrastructure”
Peshawar: A delegation from Southeast University (SEU) in Naniyang, China, engaged in discussions with Professor Dr. Iftikhar Hussain, the Vice Chancellor of University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar and discussed the establishment of a collaborative initiative named the “China-Pak Belt and Road Joint Laboratory for Smart Disaster Prevention of major Infrastructure.”
This joint laboratory project is set to be introduced across five selected universities in Pakistan, including UET Peshawar, UET Lahore, NED Karachi, NUST, and BUETEM Quetta.
During their visit, the delegation met with key figures including Abdul Basit, the Secretary of Relief and Rehabilitation Khyber Pakhtunkhaw Raja Shehreyar, Deputy Scientific Advisor from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Khair-uz-Zaman from the University of Science and Technology in Bannu, and Professor Dr Jehan Bakht from the University of Peshawar (UoP).
Various presentations were made by senior officials from organizations like Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Khyber Pakhtunkhaw, the Center for Disaster Preparedness and Management at UoP, the China Study Center at UoP, and the Civil Engineering Department at UET Peshawar.
Professor Zhou Dong from SEU highlighted the esteemed status of the Civil Engineering Department at SEU, rated as “A+” in the Ministry of Education’s classifications in China.
He emphasized that the collaboration between SEU and Pakistani universities aligns with the “Belt and Road” initiative, focusing on talent development, technology promotion, and joint research in disaster risk management.
Raja Shehreyar from MOST explained that the state-of-the-art laboratory at UET Peshawar will act as a central hub for public sector universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhaw in partnership with Southeast University Naniyang, China.
This joint laboratory will operate under the auspices of MOST and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) as part of a Public-Private Partnership model, as proposed by the CPEC working group on Science and Technology.
Abdul Basit, Secretary of Relief and Rehabilitation Khyber Pakhtunkhaw mentioned the active efforts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhaw government in establishing the Relief, Rehabilitation, and Settlement Department (RRSD) to formulate policies and strategies for disaster management in the province.
The Vice Chancellors of Khyber Pakhtunkhaw universities collectively appreciated the collaboration efforts of MOST, NDMA, and PDMA in fostering scientific research collaboration with Southeast University China in the domain of disaster management.
They believed this collaboration would be instrumental in addressing the escalating challenges posed by climate change in KP, particularly in the face of floods and other natural disasters.
The delegation also visited the National Earthquake Engineering Center at UET Peshawar, an institution dedicated to providing solutions and guidance for reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.
Professor Dr. Irshad Ahmed and Professor Dr. Khan Shahzada briefed the delegation about the center’s capabilities, including advanced labs and a 6x6m shake table, the fourth largest in South Asia.
They highlighted the center’s contribution to revising Pakistan’s seismic building code in 2023 and its active involvement in cutting-edge research related to non-destructive testing of building and bridge structures.
Several dignitaries from UET Peshawar, including Professor Dr. Sahar Noor, Professor Dr. Amjad Ullah, Professor Dr. Siraj-ul-Islam, Professor Dr. Misbah Ullah, Dr. Khizar Azam Khan, Professor Dr. Nasru Minallah, and other senior officials, were also present during this visit.
