KARACHI: Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) and Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences (LUAWMS), Uthal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday at SMIU. SMIU Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh and Lasbela University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Dost Muhammad Baloch singed the MoU on cooperation in exchange of faculty members, research personnel and graduate, and under graduate students for study and research, joint educational, academic, training and research activities, participation in seminars and academic meetings, provision of research training and course work for MPhil students, supervision of PhD students at subsidised fee structure, exchange of administrative managers and coordinators and training and development of administrative and academic staff. On the occasion, Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh said that we welcome this kind of cooperation that would be beneficial for both the universities of Sindh and Balochistan. Dr Ali said, “Sindh and Balochistan have historic ties with each that will surely strengthen with this kind of collaboration and cooperation.” He said that Sindh Madressatul Islam University would welcome students, faculty and administrative staff of Lasbela University at SMIU under the exchange programme. Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh further said that Lasbela University is so close to Karachi city, therefore, their cooperation in various fields of education will be in the interest of economic growth of the country because China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is also nearer to both the areas. Dr Shaikh also discussed on Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s association and love for his Alma Mater SMI. Prof Dr Dost Muhammad Baloch said that the MoU would be helpful for newly established Lasbela University in many ways. He said that we should work together, especially in marine science, education, media studies and other areas of research and training. He also said that SMIU would be able to send its students for internship at LUAWMS. He also said that LUAWMS is an important university of Balochistan, as it is nearer to the Gawadr Port and CPEC project. It is also close to SMIU, therefore, cooperation between these two brotherly universities is in a national interest, he added. While praising the role of Dr Shaikh, he said that the SMIU VC had very well developed the university within a shortest period of time.