Researchers produced better, highly cited research papers than BRICS countries
PESHAWAR: The Islamia College here Saturday hosted a largely-attended event to celebrate Pakistan’s achievement for producing better quality and highly cited research papers compared to the member states of BRICS.
The Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed was the chief guest at the function held at the Roose-Keppel Hall of the Islamia College, one of the oldest seats of quality education in Pakistan and presently a public sector university.
Several vice-chancellors of public sector universities, academicians, Islamia College teachers and students, and people from other walks of life attended the event.
Islamia College Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Habib Ahmad in his vote of thanks pointed out that his university took the lead to organize the event to celebrate Pakistan’s remarkable achievement in the field of higher education despite heavy odds. He said the Pakistani researchers were contributing immensely in every field to make the country not only self-sufficient but also an exporter of high-value products. He stressed the need for focusing on education to put Pakistan on the steady path of progress.
Dr Habib Ahmad noted the support being extended by Dr Mukhtar Ahmed to the Islamia College and mentioned the projects that have already been approved by the HEC or were in the pipeline.
Dr Mukhtar Ahmed expressed his happiness over the performance of Pakistani scientists and academics for producing quality research and highly cited papers that were judged in a 10-year study reported by Thompson Reuters for having higher percentage than those from four out of the five BRICS countries including Brazil, Russia, India and China. He thanked the Islamic College for celebrating the event and getting so many participants “despite the fact that it is Saturday.”
He opined that Pakistan was making strides in higher education and some of its universities were rising and had already claimed a place among the 600-700 top universities of the world. He said the scholars who produced the research papers that won praise as highly cited deserve praise as they had made Pakistan proud.
Dr Iftikhar Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, Abbottabad University of Science & Technology, in his presentation explained how Pakistani researchers had fared in terms of their highly cited papers compared to those from Brazil, Russia, India and China, the four BRIC countries.
Dr Naushad Khan, the pro-vice-chancellor of Islamia College, narrated the history of the college and its achievements over the past 100 years. He highlighted anecdotes as the institution marched from being a school to a college to a university and the way donors gave generously to ensure its expansion to a high seat of learning.
Senior journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai remarked that any achievement made by Pakistan should be warmly celebrated as Pakistanis don’t get to hear happy news nowadays.
“This event is being celebrated at the right place at the right time as Islamia College Peshawar is the oldest educational institution in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa located in the oldest living city of the region,” he pointed out.
He noted that quantity-wise the scientists from the BRICS countries produced more research papers, but Pakistani researchers as reported by the Thomson Reuters study edged them in terms of quality. “We all know it is the quality that matters in the end,” he added.
He said the Pakistani nation is strong and resilient as proved by its steadfastness in the face of a number of natural and man-made disasters in recent years. He said no doubt Pakistan is confronted with many challenges and has to overcome a number of shortcomings, but it has the potential to do better and make progress.
Prof Sareer Badshah, the organizer of the event, also spoke on the occasion.
University of Haripur Vice-Chancellor Dr Nasser Ali Khan and Gomal University Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohammad Sarwar were also among the invitees at the event.
Later, shields were presented to the speakers and other guests as a memento of their visit to Islamia College.
Earlier, HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed cut the ribbon and had a look at the under-construction Academic Block of the Islamia College. It has been named after late Urdu poet Ahmad Faraz, who belonged to Kohat and taught at the Islamic College before winning countrywide fame.
Dr Mukhar Ahmed also planted sapling in the lawns of the college in memory of his visit to the historic institution.
