Indonesian CG inaugurates ‘Indonesian Research Desk’ at SU, pledges enhanced academic and cultural cooperation

Consul General of Republic of Indonesia in Karachi Totok Prianamto and other consulate officials arrived at Area Study Centre Fareast and Southeast Asia, University of Sindh, Jamshoro with the specific purpose of inaugurating the newly-established ‘Indonesian Research Desk’ at the given premises, exploring the prospects of future academic and research collaborations and enriching people to people contact between Pakistani and Indonesian counterparts.

The meet-up mutually agreed to pave the way for establishment of ‘Indonesian Research Corner’ at the center, organize an international seminar at SU on the “Bilateral Relations between Pakistan and Indonesia”; visit of SU scholars to Indonesian universities and formal signing of ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ to this effect.

SU vice chancellor Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Burfat, exchanging views with the visiting CG said that they were proud of their long-standing cordial relations with Republic of Indonesia; adding that he saw immense potential for both the countries to deepen cooperation in the areas of education, culture, science, heritage, history, religion and arts.

Dr. Burfat added that both universities in Pakistan, especially University of Sindh, Jamshoro and its sister institutions house common teaching and research department/ institutes/ centers that can mutually benefit academics and researchers in both the countries in a significant way.

“I am pleased to partake that SU and Consulate General of Republic of Indonesia in Karachi have been having rich record of mutual academic and cultural cooperation. We strongly wish to develop ‘Memoranda of Understanding’ with leading Indonesian universities through Indonesian Consulate in Karachi. In this context, SU Area Study Centre will be streamlining a tangible proposal to submit to the Indonesian Consulate, Karachi for further headway. We plan to broaden the reciprocal scope of this academic, cultural and social inter-linkage and intend to take it to further higher pedestal by means of more meaningful engagement between SU Area Study Centre for Fareast and Southeast Asia and the Indonesian Consulate in Karachi”, the vice chancellor remarked.

Consul General of Republic of Indonesia in Karachi Totok Prianamto said that as per mandate of his mission, he would like to nurture, foster, deepen and consolidate ties between academics, institutions, people and governments of the two countries; adding that they greatly valued the oldest, highly reputed and premier seat of higher learning like University of Sindh which had the honor of housing almost entire rural student intake of Sindh province; constituting almost ninety percent of entire Sindh student population.

“I take this interface as a continuing point for increased, more vibrant, more engaged and more mutually productive bilateral relation between Pakistan and Indonesia”, the CG said.

CG Prianamto cordially invited SU vice chancellor, Director and faculty of the centre and other academics present to visit Indonesian Consulate at Karachi aimed at further strengthening the already cordial relations.

“We will shortly plan a working lunch or dinner at our premier consulate premises at Karachi which was established in 1952 as Indonesia was the third country in the world recognizing independent of Pakistan in 1947”, CG Prianamto added.

Director Area Study Centre Prof. Dr. Ghulam Akbar Mahesar said that the center had set up a research desk at the center with a Ph.D. faculty in charge; with the specific objective to promote research on reciprocally beneficial projects relating to Pakistan and Indonesia.

Professor in Incharge of the Indonesian Research Desk Dr. Mukesh Kumar Khatwani said that the chair in question will facilitate research related to Pakistan and Indonesia in particular and the Far Eastern and Southeastern region in general.

Director STAGS Dr. Sumera Umrani, Media Advisor to the vice-chancellor Dr. Ghulam Ali Buriro, Prof. Sarfaraz Korejo, Dr. Noreen Nazar, Dr. Majid Noonari and others were present on the occasion.