Karachi:International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi (UoK), on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pink Pakistan Trust, Karachi.
The purpose of the agreement is to support Breast Cancer survivor women in Pakistan, and to aid women empowerment throughout the country.
Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences on behalf of the ICCBS and Pink Pakistan Trust President Dr. Zubaida Qazi signed the agreement in a meeting held at Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi.
According to the MoU, the international center, and Pink Pakistan Trust will work jointly towards the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) of eradicating poverty, good health, and wellbeing, gender equality, reduced inequalities, and economic growth in general. Particularly, they will work together for spreading awareness to reduce the mortality rate of breast cancer and promote women’s wellbeing and empowerment.
Other officials Pink Pakistan Trust, including Dr. Kauser Saldero, Saddaf Sadiq Muffarah, and a few officials of the international center were also present in the meeting. On the occasion, Prof. Iqbal Choudhary, who is also the Coordinator General of COMSTECH, said that the ICCBS will extend support in spreading awareness, and disseminating knowledge regarding breast cancer and empower women of the country through the provision of its outreach, human resources, and technology.
He said that ICCBS at the University of Karachi was one of the most eminent centers of excellence, and one of the finest academic research establishments of chemical, biological, and biomedical sciences in the developing world. He appreciated the efforts that the trust made to improve the lives of the women belonging to marginalized communities in Pakistan.
He said that ICCBS was the only institution in Pakistan which was not only certified by ISO but it also became the ‘UNESCO Centre for Excellence Category-2 Institute’. Dr. Zubaida Qazi said, “Pink Pakistan Trust is a non-profit and non-government organization dedicated to improving the lives of the women belonging to marginalized communities in Pakistan.”
The trust has launched several initiatives to ensure their ultimate goal of empowering these women, by safeguarding their right to well-being and welfare in our society, she said, adding that this agreement will help both organizations in spreading awareness regarding breast cancer and early detection of breast cancer for the welfare and wellbeing of the marginalized community.