Lahore, 27 August 2026: The Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre (PASTIC), Regional Office Lahore, in collaboration with the Center for Academic Integrity (CAI), University of Lahore (UOL), successfully organized a webinar titled “Academic Writing Excellence: Understanding and Using APA Guidelines.”
The webinar aimed to strengthen participants’ academic writing skills and enhance their understanding of proper citation, referencing, formatting, paraphrasing, and the ethical use of scholarly sources in accordance with American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines.
Mr. Ali Raza Khan, Additional Director, PASTIC Regional Office Lahore, served as the organizer of the webinar, while Prof. Dr. Zaheer Ahmad, Head, Department of Information Management, and Director, Center for Academic Integrity, University of Lahore, conducted the session as the resource person.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Ali Raza Khan warmly welcomed the resource person and participants. He highlighted the importance of effective academic writing in maintaining the quality, credibility, and integrity of scholarly research. He emphasized that academic writing is not limited to presenting ideas clearly but also requires adherence to established ethical and scholarly standards.
Mr. Khan particularly stressed the significance of proper citation and referencing practices in preventing plagiarism and ensuring appropriate acknowledgement of the intellectual contributions of other researchers. He noted that a sound understanding of APA guidelines is essential for students, researchers, faculty members, and information professionals to produce well-structured, consistent, and academically credible work.
He also appreciated the collaborative efforts of PASTIC and the Center for Academic Integrity in organizing capacity-building activities that strengthen research skills and promote a culture of academic honesty and integrity.
During the session, Prof. Dr. Zaheer Ahmad provided a comprehensive and practical overview of academic writing and the effective application of APA guidelines. He discussed the importance of organizing scholarly content clearly and logically and explained the major components of APA style, including in-text citations, reference lists, document formatting, paraphrasing, and the ethical use of information sources.
Prof. Dr. Zaheer Ahmad also highlighted common mistakes made by students and researchers in academic writing and referencing. He emphasized the importance of accuracy, consistency, and careful attention to academic standards. The session enabled participants to develop a better understanding of how effective writing and appropriate citation practices can improve the quality, clarity, credibility, and overall presentation of academic work.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Ali Raza Khan expressed his appreciation to Prof. Dr. Zaheer Ahmad for delivering an informative and practical session and sharing his valuable expertise on academic writing and APA guidelines.
The successful completion of the webinar reflects PASTIC’s continued commitment to research capacity building, knowledge sharing, academic excellence, and the promotion of ethical writing and referencing practices among students, researchers, faculty members, and information professionals.