APP and Allama Iqbal Open University Agree to Cooperate Across Various Sectors
National news agency and Allama Iqbal Open University plan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding following high-level discussions on institutional collaboration, digital communication and potential areas of mutual cooperation.
ISLAMABAD, October 12, 2026: The Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) and Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) have agreed in principle to strengthen cooperation across various fields, with both institutions preparing to formalise their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The understanding was reached during an official visit by APP Managing Director Sabeen Usman Khattak to Allama Iqbal Open University in Islamabad, where she held discussions with Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Nasir Mahmood.
Representatives from APP’s Marketing and Information Technology departments also participated in the meeting, which focused on exploring opportunities for institutional cooperation and identifying areas of mutual interest.
During the discussions, Vice-Chancellor Dr Nasir Mahmood briefed the visiting delegation on the university’s academic departments, administrative structure and institutional functions.
The briefing provided an overview of AIOU’s educational operations and the different areas in which cooperation between the university and the national news agency could potentially be developed.
APP Highlights Modern Journalism and Digital Outreach
APP Managing Director Sabeen Usman Khattak highlighted the organisation’s expanding role in modern journalism, digital communication and multilingual news dissemination.
She stated that APP was actively contributing to the promotion of Pakistan’s national narrative while providing news coverage through conventional reporting, video news services and digital platforms.
The managing director also outlined the agency’s ability to distribute news in various national, regional and international languages, reflecting its multilingual communication capabilities and outreach.
The discussions brought together two Islamabad-based public institutions operating in different but potentially complementary fields: news and information services on one side, and higher education and distance learning on the other.
APP serves as Pakistan’s national news agency, providing news and multimedia content to audiences through its established editorial network and expanding digital operations.
Allama Iqbal Open University, headquartered in Islamabad, is a major public institution specialising in open and distance education, with educational services extending to learners across Pakistan.
MoU Expected to Formalise Future Cooperation
A key outcome of the meeting was the agreement that APP and AIOU would sign a Memorandum of Understanding in the near future to establish a formal framework for cooperation.
The proposed arrangement is intended to enhance coordination between the two institutions and provide a foundation for collaborative activities in mutually agreed areas.
However, the specific projects, financial commitments, implementation mechanisms and exact date for signing the MoU were not announced during the meeting.
The development marks an initial step toward closer engagement between the national news agency and the Islamabad-based university, with the precise scope of cooperation expected to become clearer once the proposed agreement is formally concluded.
