Islamabad: A delegation of Syrian Government officials, led by Deputy Minister of Education and Educational Affairs Dr. Rami Waheed Al-Dhulli, held a meeting with the senior management of Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan at the HEC Secretariat on Friday.

According to a statement, the two sides discussed in detail the issues of mutual interest, aiming to explore the potential areas for bilateral collaboration. In his welcome remarks, Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed informed the delegates that HEC was established in 2002 with the target of improving access, relevance, and quality.

He said the government focused on investments in the higher education sector in the past 22 years, paving the way for a number of universities to secure international recognition. He said HEC invests almost 40 percent of its funds on human resource development, adding that HEC has so far awarded around 300,000 local and foreign scholarships to Pakistani students.

“HEC is open to extend all possible support to the Syrian higher education institutions, be it policy formulation, capacity building of faculty, skill development initiatives, Information Technology, and other areas,” the chairman said.

The delegation head, Dr. Rami Waheed Al-Dhulli, expressed his gratitude to HEC management for offering support to Syrian higher education sector open-heartedly. He said Syria would like to develop bilateral academic and research relations between the higher education institutions

on the two sides. He observed that the two sides may collaborate in multiple areas, including professional education, IT, entrepreneurship, technology, and modern teaching methods.

Ambassador of Syria to Pakistan Dr. Ramez Alraee said Pakistan and Syria share a long history of relations which goes beyond political interests, adding that Syria endears Pakistan as a brotherly Islamic country. The history, he noted, testifies that the two countries have been standing by each other in odd times and extended assistance in trials like earthquakes.

He emphasised that Pakistan and Syria must jointly work on building economic, educational, and cultural bonds for the benefit of people on both sides. The Syrian delegation will visit different universities in the country.

The objective of their visit is to get introduced to the education sector in Pakistan and seek opportunities of collaboration related to virtual learning, teaching mechanisms, scientific skills and skills proficiency of students and teachers in the filed of Information and Technology, technology based educational projects, and exploring avenues for bilateral scientific and cultural cooperation.

The Syrian dignitaries included Director IT, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Syria, Dr. Manal Sulaiman Saqr; Director Scientific Research, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Syria, Yaseer Saeed Khadra; Director International Cooperation, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Syria, Dr. Aqil Saeed Mahfoud; Director IT, Ministry of Education, Syria, Najeeb Suhail Salaq; Education Director, Ministry of Education, Syria, Ragib Ali Al-Jidi; and Consular/DHM Embassy of Pakistan, Damascus Umer Hayat Khan. Aside from HEC senior officers, the meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Federal Education and Professional Training.

Karachi: West Indies Women clinched the fifth T20I by eight wickets on the back of yet another match-winning knock by skipper Hayley Matthews, winning the series with a 4-1 margin on Friday at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi.

In pursuit of the 135-run target, West Indies lost opening batter Rashada Williams (16, 11b, 3x4s) to Sadia Iqbal in the fifth over.

Matthews was then joined by Shemaine Campbelle (33 not out, 35b, 2x4s) on the crease as the duo forged a 103-run second-wicket partnership. Over the course of her innings, Matthews brought up her third half-century (78, 59b, 11x4s) of the series before falling prey to Nashra Sundhu. Sadia and Nashra picked up one scalp apiece.

Earlier, after Pakistan were asked to bat first, the opening batters stitched 38 runs in five overs before Qiana Joseph castled Ayesha Zafar (22, 16b, 4x4s). Muneeba Ali chipped in with a fluent 19-ball 25 on the back of three fours, becoming just the fourth Pakistan Women player to score 1,000 T20I runs.

Pakistan’s middle-order was kept in check as Nida Dar, Gull Feroza, Natalia Parvaiz and Najiha Alvi returned for single-digit scores while Fatima Sana copped a golden duck.

Sidra Amin’s crafty knock of 48 off 52 balls including five fours ended in the penultimate over of the innings. Rameen Shamim’s unbeaten contribution of 16 on 11 balls with two boundaries helped Pakistan post 134-8 in their 20 overs.

Afy Fletcher picked up three wickets. Qiana claimed two scalps while Matthews and Aaliyah Alleyne bagged one each.

Scores in brief:

West Indies Women beat Pakistan Women by eight wickets

Pakistan Women 134-8, 20 overs (Sidra Amin 48, Muneeba Ali 25, Ayesha Zafar 22; Afy Fletcher 3-17, Qiana Joseph 2-26)

West Indies Women 136-2, 18.2 overs (Hayley Matthews 78, Shemaine Campbelle 33 not out)

Player of the match – Hayley Matthews (West Indies Women)

Player of the series – Hayley Matthews (West Indies Women)

1st T20I – West Indies Women won by 1 run

2nd T20I – West Indies Women won by seven wickets

3rd T20I – West Indies Women won by 2 runs

4th T20I – Pakistan Women won by eight wickets

Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif met WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy in which it was agreed to hold a collaboration for the provision of better health facilities in the province.

Dr Hanan Balkhy congratulated CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif on being elected as the first woman Chief Minister of Punjab. The Chief Minister felicitated Dr Hanan Balkhy on assuming the office of WHO Regional Director.

The CM lauded the services of Dr Hanan Balkhy rendered in the health sector especially with regard to controlling infection among the people.CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif said,'' The Punjab government will provide complete cooperation and assistance to WHO to ensure prevention from diseases and their treatment.

Bringing reforms in the health sector is our foremost priority.32 field hospitals have been functionalized for the rural people in the province and we will accomplish our target to establish state of the art hospitals in every district within the next 05 years."

Dr Hanan Balkhy said that undertaking timely measures are highly essential in order to save the people inhabiting far-flung areas from infectious diseases.

WHO will provide complete cooperation and assistance for the provision of timely health facilities in case of arising natural calamity emergency situation, she added.