LAHORE: (Wednesday, April 16, 2025): Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali has said that the job of professors is not only to teach students but also to play a role for the country, nation and humanity by understanding their responsibilities. He was addressing the launching ceremony of ‘Nuclear Arms Control in South Asia: Politics, Postures and Practices’ Prof Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, organized by Punjab University Department of Political Science, at the Waheed Shaheed Hall here on Wednesday. On this occasion, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad Professor Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, Dean Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences Prof Dr Iram Khalid, Professor Emeritus Dr Hassan Askari Rizvi, Chairman Department of Political Science Prof Dr Rana Ijaz Ahmed, Assistant Professor Dr Muhammad Sharreh Qazi, faculty members and a large number of students were present. In his address, PU VC Dr Muhammad Ali said that QAU and PU have produced very capable and renowned politicians, educationists, bureaucrats and civil servants for Pakistan. He said that Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal has played an important role in the country's policy-making. He said that we have to focus on research to compete with the world. He said that this book will help dispel the impression that Pakistan’s nuclear program is unsafe at the global level. He said that Dr Jaspal provided a lot of support during the four-year journey of Quaid-e-Azam University. He said that support is not obtained from anyone but is earned. He said that professors like Dr Zafar Nawaz are role models for students who are doing great work for the country, society, government and community. Dr Hassan Askari Rizvi said that this book will prove to be a beautiful addition in the areas of security and international relations. He said that the world’s focus on Pakistan’s nuclear program came after 1979, which was negative. He said that after the 1998 nuclear explosions, the world called Pakistan’s nuclear program an Islamic bomb. He said that in the past, our intellectuals were unable to explain Pakistan’s point of view regarding the nuclear program to the world. He said that the material published in this regard since 2014 is more effective due to excellent research, which is countering propaganda at the international level. He said that this book also contains excellent research material for which the author’s efforts are commendable. He said that young scholars will have to learn about emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, modern communication in the future. Dr Zafar Jaspal, while describing the features of the book, said that knowledge always expands. He said that as a writer, he has tried not to make mistakes. He said that Pakistan is a sovereign nuclear country. He said that we should trust our educationists, researchers, publishers, scholars and intellectuals. He said that unfortunately, the culture of reading books is disappearing from the country. He said that if the research work of the writer is good, the world buys and reads it. He said that this book also clarified the rhetoric and practical approach of India and Pakistan regarding nuclear positions and nuclear arms control. Dr Iram Khalid said that this book is the need of the hour which will definitely benefit the readers. She said that this book will help our young students understand the history of Pakistan’s nuclear program. She congratulated Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal for writing a book on an excellent topic. Praising the book, she highlighted the theoretical and empirical reasons for the challenges of nuclear proliferation and control in South Asia. Dr Rana Ijaz said that this region is important because of the nuclear powers of Pakistan, China, India and Russia. He said that controlling arms requires a strategy. He said that Pakistan had acquired nuclear capability which was necessary to meet its legitimate security needs. He said that Pakistan had not violated any international legal obligations. He said that the Department of Political Science would continue to play a role in promoting critical thinking of its students. Dr Qazi said that the author has beautifully highlighted the issues of ideology and nuclear postures in the book. He said that Pakistan needs to be aware of India’s technological developments such as supersonic missiles, ballistic missile defense, and ideological changes.