Strengthening Social Sciences is vital for promoting peace, tolerance, harmony in the country. Special attention should be paid to social sciences through increase of fund allocations both at federal and provincial levels. It was resolved during an important meeting of vice chancellors and representatives of more than 20 higher education institutions of the country at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan. The meeting was organized by Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences Pakistan (IUCPSS) and held under the chairmanship of Dr. Nasser Ali Khan chairman IUCPSS and Vice Chancellor University of Haripur.

Vice-chancellors of the universities and academicians discussed the importance of social sciences in social and economic development of the country and stressed that Pakistan's social and economic crisis can only be resolved through the promotion of social sciences.

While sharing the objectives and overview of the progress of the organization, Chairman Inter University Consortium Dr. Nasser Ali Khan informed that consortium is working with national and international organizations, and a number of MoUs had been signed with several countries, leading foreign university networks and organizations.

The meeting participants also acknowledged the contribution and dynamic leadership of Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar (former Vice Chancellor, Islamia University of Bahawalpur), and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nizamuddin (former Vice Chancellor, University of Gujrat; first Chairperson of Punjab Higher Education Commission) and vowed that the Consortium as an autonomous body ,under the leadership of current chairman Dr. Nasser Ali Khan, would continue its contribution towards strengthening Social Sciences at regional and national level, with close liaison with its partner organizations. In light of growing desire and demand by Pakistani universities, expanding IUCPSS's associate membership and partnership would also be expanded and International Social Sciences conference would also be organized during June, 2015. They also extended thanks to Vice Chancellor Abdul Wali Khan University, Prof. Dr. Ihsan Ali for hosting the meeting.

The Mardan Declaration was also issued at the end of the meeting, reaffirmed Abbottabad Declaration 15th July 2012, Bahawalpur Declaration 27th April 2013 and Swat Declaration 10th June 2013, which called for increase in budget of higher education, establishment of Pakistan Council of Social Sciences Research (PCSSR) as an autonomous organization under the umbrella of IUCPSS, establishment of Endowment fund for social sciences research, increase in proportion of social sciences disciplines in local and foreign scholarships, establishment of laboratories for research in the discipline in all universities of the country.

Following worldwide patterns and global practices, the consortium as an autonomous organization would continue its contribution, under the leadership of current chairman Dr. Nasser Ali Khan, towards strengthening Social Sciences at regional and national level, with close liaison with its partner organizations. It added that though social sciences, art and humanities have been accorded importance globally, it has been neglected in Pakistan. The consortium would complement the ongoing efforts of revival of Social Sciences at provincial, national and international levels.

Inter university collaborations within and outside the country can be greatly helpful to improve state of social sciences in Pakistan. The declaration emphasized over collaborative efforts for inculcating spirit of civic and social responsibility among Pakistani youth and close interactions among Pakistani academia, policy makers and civil society to undertake joint efforts for overcoming various socio- economic problems being confronted by the people.

On this occasion, the inter university consortium signed MOUs with National Book Foundation, Government of Pakistan and Institute of Institute of Social and Policy Sciences (I-SAPS) Pakistan for promoting social sciences and book reading culture.