BAHAWALPUR: The Islamia University Bahawalpur’s Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, organised two-day 4th international conference on interdisciplinary approach in social sciences and 2nd Women’s Economic Empowerment Expo on Thursday. According to a press release, IUB VC Prof Dr Muhammad Kamran said coming together of the academia, researchers, policy makers and the business community on one platform in the conference was a very welcome step for long-term solutions to various social problems. He said the conference would not only provide an opportunity for the experts to exchange views but they would also present practical suggestions for empowering women and addressing the challenges they faced. Conference Chairman Dr Abid Rashid Gill said that presently the world was facing economic problems, climate change and resource scarcity. He stressed that experts from different disciplines and other professionals of the society should come together to solve these challenges. Other keynote speakers included former finance minister Hafeez Pasha, Bahawalpur Commissioner Nadir Chattha, Emerson University Multan Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ramzan and Quaid-i-Azam Medical College Bahawalpur Principal Dr Sofia Farrukh. In their addresses, they said sustainable development had become an important topic for the whole world. For this purpose, they opined, the scientists associated with social sciences and experts from other sciences were working together for sustainable development of society under an interdisciplinary thinking so that societies with sustainable development could be created globally. Women entrepreneurs, artisans and craftsmen from South Punjab set up stalls displaying their products at the expo. CONVICTED: Lodhran Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Asif Sial handed down life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs0.5m to Manzoor Ahmed while his co-accused Muhammad Azam was awarded 10-year imprisonment along with a fine of Rs50,000. According to the prosecution, convict Manzoor Ahmed, in connivance with Muhammad Azam, had shot dead Muhammad Riaz on Dec 1, 2021 over a land dispute. Saddar Police Lodhran had registered the case and arrested the suspects.