Daily Times

JAMSHORO: US Consul General (CG) Brian Heath congratulated 20 students and faculty of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), being part of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) funded US Pakistan centres for ‘Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W)’. The USAID signed a $14.8 million cooperative agreement with MUET as well as $9 million one with the University of Utah to establish a ‘Centre for Advanced Studies in Water (CAS-W)’ at MUET. Brain said the delegates of the University of Utah to do research as part of the organisation’s exchange programme. “We are proud to empower women scientists and researchers in Pakistan to solve its water problems,” said consul general. The CG said that University of Utah is providing technical assistance to MUET to educate and train the next generation of water sustainability leaders by improving MUET’s technical and institutional capacities to deliver high quality education and applied research. Over the next three years, some 250 USPCAS-W graduate students and faculty will spend a semester at US universities to do water research in state-of-the-art laboratories, he said. Brain said the exchanges would help upgrade teaching skills, enhance industry awareness and build corporate relationships adding that the partnership also encompasses curriculum development, research and establishment of new laboratories. USPCAS-W is part of USAID’s $127 million investment to develop innovative, practical solutions to Pakistan’s energy, water, agriculture, and food security challenges, he said. MUET Vice Chancellor Mohammad Aslam Uqaili, USPCAS-W Programme Director Bakshal Lashari, University of Utah Chief of Party, Mohammad Aslam Chaudhry, and USAID Deputy Director Craig Buck were also present on the occasion.