Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on Friday celebrated the “World Earth Day” with the pledge to intensify its research-based activities to safe the planet from environmental hazards. A seminar and tree-plantation events were organised on the occasion by the Department of Home and Health Sciences in collaboration with other local organisations. The AIOU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shahid Siddiqui in his message on the occasion assured that the AIOU being a mega-university would be a helping hand in providing academic support to the government and the world body to make the earth pollution-free and well preserved for the coming generations. He said that the university has been actively engaged in the recent years doing research on socio-economic issues relating to the society. Various academic programmes have been initiated to deal with issues relating to environmental problems and global warming. The seminar was presided over by the Sciences Dean Prof Dr Naghmana Rashid. The AIOU Registrar Dr Muhammad Naeem Qureshi was also present on occasion. The speakers who addressed the seminar included eminent environmental scientists Dr Amin Haider Malik, Muhammad Abid and Yousaf Riaz.  They called for evolving a long-term well-thought strategy to overcome the problems like contamination of drinking water and de-forestation. They also underlined the need of utilising all available resources for ensuring pollution-free environment and maximum tree plantation both at individual and collective levels. Dr Naghmana Rashid spoke about her research on water-waste management and effects of pesticide on soil. She said that AIOU would be taking some research-based projects on the earth and environment-related subjects in collaboration with other relevant organisations. Department of Home Sciences Chairman Dr Nomana Anjum said that the university would continue to take professional development programmes for sustainable building designs, which could be environment-friendly. They have proposed a user-friendly architecture design after extensive feasibility study, which provides a clear and safe environment to the people, she added.