Prof Abdus Salam’s 90th birthday celebrated

Islamabad

The 90th birthday of Dr. Abdus Salam, Pakistani Nobel Laureate, was celebrated on Friday by Comstech in collaboration with Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) and National Centre for Physics (NCP), says a press release.

Nearly 170 theoretical and experimental physicists graced the occasion with their presence. Fazal Abbas Maken, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, also graced the occasion.

Dr. Shaukat Hameed Khan, Coordinator General Comstech, welcomed all the participants of the event and shed light on the scientific achievements of Dr. Abdus Salam. He traced his journey from a humble school in Jhang to his life in Government College Lahore, and then his work in Cambridge and Imperial College, London. While sharing memories and photographs of the late Prof. Salam, he lamented the national neglect of Dr Salam and highlighted the extremely poor condition of his home, despite being declared a 'National Monument'. He pleaded for its rehabilitation on an emergency basis.

Also speaking on the occasion Dr. Aslam Baig, Dr. N.M. Butt and Dr. Fayyazuddin highlighted the achievements and supportive role of Prof. Salam played not in their own lives but also in the lives of several hundred young scientists and researchers belonging to Pakistan. Dr Fayyazuddin gave an illuminating discourse on his research which led to his Noble Award and his attempt to understand symmetry and unification among the four fundamental forces of nature. He expressed disappointment at the neglect of science in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Naeem, Chairman PAEC, paid rich tribute to the scientific mettle and diverse personality of Prof. Salam. Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, former Chairman PAEC/Chairman BoG, NCP, passionately described his association with Dr. Abdus Salam and elaborated many incidents when he went out of the way to help young scientists and researchers of Pakistani origin.

He informed the audience that Prof. Salam played a crucial role in development of scientific and technical human resource of PAEC when the institution was in the nascent stage. His role in the creation of Pakistan's space agency, SUPARCO, as well as PINSTECH, the 'mother institute' of PAEC, was highlighted.

All the speakers lauded his work in breaking the gap between the developed and developing countries, which led to the creation of the International Centre of Theoretical Physics (ICTP) , now named as the Abdus Salam International Centre of Theoretical Physics.

Dr. Anwar Nasim, President of PAS, presented vote of thanks and described the literary talent of Prof. Salam as he had been the editor of both English and Urdu languages of "RAVI" magazine of Government College Lahore.

Comstech had specially invited Imran Rasheed, a nephew of Prof. Salam, to attend this event. He shared his personal childhood memories of Prof. Salam with the audience and thanked the organisers for arranging this event.