LAHORE: (Wednesday, February 3, 2021): Provincial Minister for Social Welfare & Baitul maal Syed Yawer Abbas Bukhari has said that by using scientific methods, social workers can solve problems of individuals, groups, and communities in a better way. He was addressing International Social Work Conference under the umbrella of Punjab University, here today. Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Saleem Mazhar, Chairperson Department of Social Work Prof Dr Syeda Mahnaz Hassan, scholars from international and local universities and other social scientists were present in the conference. “It is a great honor for me to be a part of this marvelous event of 1st International Social Work Conference which held on the theme ‘Contemporary social work education and practices, challenges and prospects’”, said the minister. “Let me say, he further said, social work was one of the priorities of Messengers and Prophets and angels also do the same job by the order of Almighty”. Syed Yawer Abbas Bukhari while welcoming the commencement of International Conference on Social Work said that his point of view is very clear “Social workers are often referred to as givers. The life of social workers is all about taking care of others and assuring their comfort”. He observed that social workers were not degree holders in the past decades but now, there are many specializations to assure better progress and output from the social network handlers. He urged that subject like social work should be given high value and importance to improve quality among the social workers. “I’m, saying as a minister social welfare that social work should be part of curriculum”, he said. Social Work, he further observed, is a profession dedicated to enhancing human capacity to solve complex social problems. Social workers and poverty alleviation are interlinked. “I personally believe that social work department in the University will develop tremendously under the Chairpersonship of Prof. Dr. Syeda Mahnaz Hassan because she is extremely committed and loyal to her profession”, concluded the minister. Addressing the conference, PU VC Prof Niaz Ahmad said that this was the prime responsibility of higher education institutions to resolve problems being faced by the society as well as country. He said that PU would soon present a comprehensive policy to boost social work sector to the government. Dr Mahnaz said that there was a dire need of accreditation council to regulate social work education in Pakistan because it had become one of the most demanding subjects in the world.