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Ground Breaking Ceremony of "Nasira Jabeen Center for Governance and Policy Dialogue" at the Institute of Administrative Sciences (IAS) - University of the Punjab, Lahore
Ground Breaking Ceremony of "Nasira Jabeen Center for Governance and Policy Dialogue" at the Institute of Administrative Sciences (IAS) - University of the Punjab, Lahore


The Institute of Administrative Sciences (IAS) at University of the Punjab has been a pioneer in imparting education, training, skills and conducting research in Public Administration, Governance and Public Policy. The institute was founded in the year 1962 and with a rich history of 57 years; it has successfully covered an academic journey while producing leaders and change catalysts serving globally. As part of its developmental initiatives, IAS organized the event of Ground-breaking ceremony of the Centre for Governance and Policy Dialogue on 3rd May 2019. This center to be constructed at IAS would serve as a hub of intellectual discussions, conversation and dialogue on governance, public policy and public administration.
Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, PhD (SI), Vice Chancellor of University of the Punjab was the Chief Guest of the occasion. Prof. Niaz along with Deans and other members were warmly welcomed by the IAS Faculty and staff members. To share a brief background of laying the foundations of the Center, a formal ceremony was conducted at the Dr. Muhammad Afzal Auditorium where the program began with the recitation of Holy verses by Huzaifa-tur-Razzam (student of BS Management). Dr. Sidra Irfan – Assistant Professor and stage secretary for the ceremony welcomed all the guests and invited Prof. Dr. Naisra Jabeen – Dean Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences (FEMS) and Director – Institute of Administrative Sciences (IAS) to share her expressions. Professor Dr. Nasira Jabeen shared her vision and objectives of establishing the Center for Governance and Policy Dialogue at IAS. She shared that the Centre will encourage trans-disciplinary dialogue and discussions on public policy, governance and public administration engaging scholars from different fields and diverse communities.
She added that the Centre will foster a culture of debate and conversation among scholars, researchers and practitioners following collaborative & integrative approach in its quest towards developing an indigenous model of governance which is humanistic, people centric and is in access to common people. She endorsed Vice Chancellor’s vision and practice of good governance at University of the Punjab. She thanked the Vice Chancellor- Professor Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Mr. Tariq Jalil - Resident Officer I, Mr. Malik Zaheer - Resident Officer II and Mr. Faiz-ul-Hassan Sipra – Chief Engineer PU for expediting the process of laying the foundation of the Center. She also acknowledged the efforts of IAS team and faculty members including Dr. Sidra Irfan, Col. Muzaffar Ali – Manager Administration, Ms. Rifat Umbreen Afzal – Admin Officer, Mr. Shahzad Ahmad Siddiqui- Assistant Registrar and Ms. Sameen Zaki – Assistant Registrar and other team members. Followed by Dr. Jabeen’s address, Dr. Nighat Ansari- Assistant Professor at IAS, on behalf of all faculty and staff members, shared the good news of dedicating the Center in the name of Prof. Dr. Nasira Jabeen based on her meritorious and illustrious services to the Institute of Administrative Sciences, where she has lead not only the faculty and institute in the capacity of Dean and Director but also as the First Female Vice Chancellor of University of the Punjab. It is indeed a matter of great pride and absolute honor for IAS to have a leader like her. The decision was widely applauded and appreciated by the audience.
Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar – Vice Chancellor and Chief Guest of the ceremony was then invited to share his thoughts. He expressed his immense pride & pleasure to be the part of prestigious ceremony of inauguration of the Center and congratulated Dr. Nasira Jabeen on a well-deserving honor. Prof. Niaz added to his speech the significance of policy studies at University of the Punjab and its implications for governance and policy making institutions in the country. He appreciated the stat-of-the-art infrastructure of IAS and its influential use, yet, not undermining the highly qualified faculty and dedicated and able graduates of the institute that University is proud of. Dr. Niaz Ahmad mentioned that it is the need of the day that public sector should work in collaboration with private and corporate sector for the betterment of the country. Dr. Niaz also appreciated the institute’s vision and practice of dedicating its academic blocks in the name of scholars and its legendry Professors who invested their lifetime for the development of the institute through education and research. In the past years, IAS has named its auditoriums, academic blocks and library in the name of former chairpersons; Dr. Muhammad Afzal (late), Dr. Muneer Ahmed, Dr. Mujib A Sheikh (late), Dr. A.R. Jafri and Dr. Zafar Iqbal Jadoon. At the closing, Dr. Sidra Irfan thanked all the Deans, faculty and colleagues on joining the ceremony and invited them for refreshments followed by the inauguration ceremony and tree planting at the ground. All the members joined for inauguration plaque ceremony and special prayers lead by Professor Dr. A. R. Jafri, the former Chairperson of IAS. Ground-breaking ceremony was done and best wishes were offered by the members towards the completion of the project. The Center shall accommodate 1000-1200 persons and will be built on 2.5 acres land. The ceremony was attended by Mrs. Sajida Nisar- In-Charge Director IBA, Dr. Aamir Sarwar– In-Charge Director, IBIT, Professor Dr. Mumtaz Anwar – Chairperson Economics Department and President Academic Staff Association (ASA), Mr. Javed Sami – Secretary ASA, Dr. Hafiz Moqeet Javed Bhatti, Vice President (Arts) ASA, Dr. Rafia Rafiq – Treasurer ASA, Prof. Dr. Asmatullah – Director Student Affairs, Professor Dr. A.R. Jafri, Mr. Muhammad Zahid, Mr. Mubeen Khalid, Dr. Yaamina Salman, Dr. Amani Moazzam, Dr. Ghalib Ata, Dr. Ali Rehman, Ms. Aisha Rizwan, Dr. Ayesha Sarfaraz, Ms. Ayesha Hanif, Mr. Zeeshan Hanif, Mr. Malik Arif, Mrs. Lubna Afzal Javed, Dr. Shahid A Zia, Mr. Farhan Shabbir, Mr. Jameel Ahmad Khan – Senior Vice President - National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and IAS Alumnus and many other dignitaries.