ISLAMABAD, AUG 04 (DNA) — The National Rural Support Program (NRSP) and the University of Sargodha have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishing a Special Technology Park in Sargodha.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Rashid Bajwa, CEO of NRSP, and Professor Dr. Qaiser Abbas, Vice Chancellor of Sargodha University, during the second “Future of Education” conference organized by the University of Sargodha at Nathia Gali.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by notable figures, including former Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Professor Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, and Vice Chancellors of various universities, faculty heads, NRSP Regional General Manager Sargodha Ghulam Rasool, NRSP Senior Program Manager Tahir Waqar, Chief Business Development Abrar Anjum, former Secretary Saleem Ranjha, and several other distinguished personalities.
The project would be completed under a public-private partnership, focusing on joint efforts to establish a Special Technology Zone said a news release. The zone will provide the local community, students, faculty, researchers, and the broader university administration with extensive opportunities to engage in the field of Information Technology.
NRSP and Sargodha University aim to create a joint venture, the “Sargodha Technology Park,” which will also offer employment opportunities for IT graduates of the University of Sargodha and adjoining districts of the Sargodha division. Through this platform, students will have the chance to participate in internships, research projects, and startup initiatives, enabling them to secure better employment opportunities.
In his address, Dr. Rashid Bajwa, head of NRSP, highlighted the organization’s commitment to establishing a special technology zone in Sargodha to create opportunities for local IT experts, digital entrepreneurs, students, faculty members, and IT firms. The joint venture will serve as an excellent platform for the youth of Sargodha and its surrounding districts, providing all relevant facilities, including high-speed internet connectivity.
Dr. Bajwa said that the Special Technology Zone in Sargodha will be housed in a spacious 90,000-square-foot building with an additional 10 acres of land designated as a tech zone. Professor Dr. Qaiser Abbas, Vice Chancellor of Sargodha University, stated that this collaboration will provide opportunities for the university’s faculty, students, NRSP staff, and community workers to participate in workshops, training sessions, seminars, and similar events.
He said that experiences will be shared through guest lectures via video conferencing to promote research. The primary aim of this joint venture is to enhance IT skills for the rural population, especially the youth. For this purpose, Sargodha University will offer diploma courses.
National and international IT tech companies will be encouraged to invest and work in the Special Technology Park. Incubation centers for tech companies and youth, facilities for producing solar panels, electric bike hub motors, and charge controllers will be established in the Sargodha Tech Zone.
Former HEC Chairman, Professor Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, underscored the importance of this project, stating that bringing small cities like Sargodha to par with larger cities and providing advancement opportunities for the local youth is a commendable effort. He praised the efforts of NRSP and Sargodha University in providing opportunities for the younger generation, noting that the youth can transform the country’s destiny with the right opportunities. — DNA
 — The National Rural Support Program (NRSP) and the University of Sargodha have signed a Memorandum of Understanding){kind=link}