Muzaffarabad, 25th September 2024: A detailed meeting was held at the King Abdullah Campus of the University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (UOAJK) with Heads of Departments (HODs) to engage M.Phil. and Ph.D. scholars in research initiatives aimed at the conservation of natural resources within this protected region. Dr. Nuzhat Shafi, Chairperson of the Department of Zoology, hosted the session, which was attended by key figures, including Mr. Yousaf Qureshi, NRM expert of the project, Dr. Abdul Rauf, Director ORIC at UOAJK, and Dr. Nazneen Habib, Chairperson of the Department of Sociology, along with faculty members from other allied departments.
Mr. Ashiq Ahmed Khan, advisor on Natural Resource Management (NRM) for the ongoing project in Pir Chinasi, Muzaffarabad, led Taaleem Foundation’s team.
The discussion revolved around involving scholars from the departments of Botany, Zoology, and Social Sciences by assigning them research topics focused on the conservation of natural resources. The idea of formalizing this collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UOAJK and Taaleem Foundation was discussed, ensuring that UOAJK would provide human resource support as needed to sustain TF’s conservation efforts in AJK. This coordination marks a key step towards securing long-term support for the ongoing project and enhancing the sustainability of natural resource management initiatives in the region.