Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday batted for better collaboration with Tajikistan in the fields of academics, tourism, trade and commerce for the welfare of the residents of both.

Interacting with a high-level delegation from Tajikistan, which called on him at his official residence today, Chief Minister Mann said that with the world swiftly emerging as a global village there was a need for acquainting the students about the emerging trends in the education sector.

He said that in such a scenario the academic collaboration between the universities, which were temples of education, of the different countries could do wonders in spreading the light of knowledge in every nook and corner of the world besides helping in overall development of the students.

Emphasizing the need for frequent student and faculty exchange programs between Punjab and Tajikistan, Bhagwant Mann said that it would be very beneficial for the students of the state and Tajikistan.

The Chief Minister said that it was the need of the hour to update the knowledge of students and upskill the teachers in which such initiatives could play a pivotal role.

Bhagwant Mann said that Punjab and Tajikistan can initiate measures for starting student and faculty exchange programs, in which the state government will provide fulsome support and cooperation to them. /BI/