MoU Between UCP and the Association of Bio-Risk Management (ABM) Pakistan

An MoU signing ceremony took place on March 22, 2022, between UCP and the Association of Bio-Risk Management (ABM) Pakistan where Dr. Nassar Ikram, Pro-Rector UCP, and Dr. Asgher Ali, Executive Director ABM chaired the event. It mainly entails an agreement to initiate activities on the protection of the research experimental setups and sustainability of the biomedical labs. Additionally, with direct relevance to the UCP’s drive of adapting UN-defined SDGs, this MoU imparts a special emphasis on the reduction of the environmental hazards being produced through labs in the form of residue and waste materials.

ABM is a registered organization working with the Universities and Livestock departments of KP, Punjab, and Baluchistan with the project title “Institutionalization of BRM best practice through enhancing Biological Laboratory Capabilities in Pakistan”. Under the project, the organization has supported Universities and livestock departments of the three provinces in staff capacity building programs on lab biosafety and security, developing of SOPs, lab biosafety guidelines, training manuals, provision of biosafety kits to lab staff and research scholars, essential lab equipment’s, glassware chemical and reagents.

The MOU will serve the purpose of strengthening the Institutional Bio-Risk Committee, conducting Bio-Risk management trainings of the associated researchers, adopting Bio-waste management standards, and joint ventures for research and management at the University premises.