LAHORE: The Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) has launched a `split PhD scholarship programme` for the faculty members of universities and collegesofthe province.

The PHEC on Thursday signed an MoU with the Punjab University in this regard.

`The split PhD scholarship programme is indigenous-cum-foreign initiative providing the PhD scholars an opportunity to study here and abroad to complete their degree,` PHEC spokesman Dr Shahid Soraya told Dawn.

He said the pilot programme hadbeen launched with the PU and later other varsities and colleges would be included in it. `The best institutions offering PhD will be selected for the students and foreign faculty also be hired to teach them. On the last year of their PhD the students will be sent to top varsity abroad,` Mr Soraya said.

According to the MoU, initially the PHEC would offer six scholarships to the faculty members of the Punjab University Institute of Social and Cultural Studies.

The varsities and colleges in the province are facing a shortage of PhD faculty. According to an of ficial, the varsities and colleges in Punjab need at least 4,000 PhD f aculty.

Speaking at the MoU ceremonyhere, PHEC chairman Prof Dr Nizamuddin said the programme would provide opportunities of higher learning and research to the faculty of public universities and colleges. He said the PHEC was taking steps for capacity building of teachers serving in institutions of higher learning.

PU Vice-Chancellor Dr Zaffar Mueen Nasir and Dr Zakria Zakir also spoke.

CONFERENCE: Iranian Consul General Muhammad Hussain Bani Asadi says teachings of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi and Sultan Bahu give message of love, peace and brotherhood.

`Following their message we can bring about positive revolution inthe world,` he said at an international conference on Bahu and Rumi organised by the Punjab University Department of Persian and the Muslim Institute Islamabad here on Thursday.

Mr Asadi said Maulana Rumi and Sultan Bahu were among the greatest personalities of the world and their message enlightened hearts and souls. `Maulana Rumi saw killings and bloodshed in his era but his teachings gave lesson of love and he did not preach hate or revenge ever.

He said Maulana Rumi had spread light and removed darkness and he preached teachings of renowned saint Shams Tabraiz. Unfortunately, he said hate and enmity were spreading in the world so it was need of the time to preach teachings of Maulana Rumi in order to spread love and friendship in the world.

Punjab HEC Chairman Prof Dr Nizamuddin said: `We need to think why there is intolerance, extremism and terrorism in our society. We need to spread teachings of Maulana Rumi and Sultan Bahu to promote peace, harmony and brotherhood in the world.

Afghanistan Senator Arifullah Pashtoon said the Sufis had given the message of teachings of Islam and they had taught love. He said: `We need to establish peace and stop violence. Allama Iqbal had said if there would be peace in Afghanistan, there would be peace in Asia and if there would be unrest in Afghanistan, there would be unrest in Asia.

Tajikistan`s Ambassador Sher Ali Jana said: `We can take help from the teachings of Rumi and Bahu to cope with the threats we are facing in today`s era.