CONCLUDING CEREMONY OF FIVE-DAY TRAINING OF TRAINERS WORKSHOP ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN UNDER JUSTICE SECTOR SUPPORT PROGRAMME HELD IN LAHORE
The concluding ceremony of the five-day Training of Trainers workshop on Violence Against Women: Justice Sector Support Programme was held today at The Nishat Hotel, Lahore jointly organized by the Islamic Research Institute International Islamic University, Islamabad and The Asia Foundation, Pakistan bringing together legal experts, trainers, and justice sector stakeholders from across Punjab.
The event was graced by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nizamuddin, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Gujrat and former Chairman of the Punjab Higher Education Commission, as the Chief Guest. In his keynote address, Dr. Nizamuddin emphasized the critical importance of addressing violence against women (VAW) through capacity building, legal literacy, and systemic reforms. He appreciated the collaborative efforts being made to ensure justice for survivors and to strengthen institutional responsiveness.
Mr. Sohail Ahmed, former Federal Secretary, Government of Pakistan, presided over the ceremony, highlighting the role of multi-sectoral cooperation in ensuring justice and promoting human rights.
Dr. Ahmed Khawar Shahzad served as the Guest of Honor, offering insights into the importance of sensitizing justice sector personnel, including lawyers, judges, police, and community leaders, to better serve and protect victims of gender-based violence.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zia ul Haq, Director General of the Islamic Research Institute (IRI), IIUI, presented a comprehensive overview of the five-day workshop, which featured expert-led sessions, practical case discussions, and interactive modules. The training aimed to empower participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to advocate for and implement justice in cases of violence against women.
This training workshop was a key initiative under the broader Justice Sector Support Programme, supported by various national and international partners, and was attended by trainers, jirga members, and legal practitioners from ten selected districts of Punjab.
The ceremony concluded with certificate distribution among participants and a collective reaffirmation to carry forward the learnings of the workshop into their respective communities and institutions to combat violence against women and ensure a fair and effective justice system.

Don’t forget to tune into ITU FM 90.4 tomorrow at 11 am for a worth-listening session on the “Higher Education System of Pakistan” with the guest speaker, Prof. Dr. Nizamuddin, who is an educationist and administrator, and holds Sitara-e-Imtiaz.

Dr. Nizamuddin has previously served as the chairman of the Punjab Higher Education Commission, Pakistan (PHEC) and as Vice Chancellor of the University of Gujrat as well.

The session will be hosted by RJ Haroon Javed and will be live both on radio and ITU FM official page. Stay tuned!

Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nizamuddin’s Perspective on Enhancing Quality, Inclusivity, and Industry Integration in Higher Education

Emerson University Multan recently organized a high-level dialogue titled “Quality & Governance across Higher Education in Pakistan” at Al-Ghazali Hall, convening esteemed educationists, policymakers, and academic leaders to deliberate on the challenges and prospects within the country’s higher education landscape.

Among the distinguished panelists was Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nizamuddin (Sitara-e-Imtiaz, former Chairperson, Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) and Chairperson BOD Khaldunia Institute of Technology & Applied Sciences (KITAAS) College, who provided critical insights into strategies for enhancing educational quality, particularly for students from diverse socio- economic backgrounds, including those from remote and underprivileged areas. He highlighted the importance of localized cultural research and advocated for the integration of regional studies into university curricula to ensure that education remains contextually relevant and socially impactful.