Director French Cultural Centre visits University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences to strengthen collaboration

By Muhammad Shahzad
Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: Director of the French Cultural Center Lahore, Fabrice Disdier, visited University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and called on Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Masood Rabbani at the City Campus.
During the visit, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prof Dr Masood Rabbani. Dean Faculty of Veterinary Science Prof Dr Kamran Ashraf, Prof Dr Muhammad Imran Rashid, Prof Dr Haroon Akbar, Prof Dr Wasim Shehzad, Dr Naveed ul Haq, Dr Muhammad Oneeb and other faculty members attended the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Masood Rabbani highlighted the historic importance of UVAS and said the university has longstanding linkages with France, with many faculty members having earned PhD degrees from French institutions. He expressed the university’s interest in strengthening scientific collaboration with French educational institutions, particularly in higher education, One Health and climate change research.
He said Pakistan’s poultry sector is rapidly expanding and noted that poultry vaccines are also imported from France to help control various diseases. He added that UVAS is always willing to collaborate with France in academic and research fields.
Mr Fabrice Disdier appreciated UVAS for actively promoting the French language and conducting language courses effectively on campus. He particularly acknowledged the role of Prof Dr Muhammad Imran Rashid in successfully organizing French language courses and motivating students.
He assured the university that he would play an active role in establishing collaboration between UVAS and French institutions. He also observed that the poultry sector is a vibrant industry in France and an affordable source of protein.
Earlier, Prof Dr Muhammad Imran Rashid gave a detailed presentation regarding activities jointly conducted by UVAS and Alliance Française Lahore. He shared that the collaboration began in 2018 following the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
He said students participated in various cultural activities, Francophonie competitions, and French language courses including A1, A2 and B1 levels through the UVAS sub-center. He further informed that Alliance Française also established a Campus France office at the French Cultural Center to guide students regarding visa applications and higher education opportunities in France.