With an aim to encourage budding scientists, four-day conference commences at KU

It is a historic period for Pakistan as the country is working together with China on various mega projects, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), said the former federal minister for science and technology, Professor Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, on Thursday.

He was addressing the inaugural session of the four-day international conference titled ‘14th Eurasia Conference on Chemical Sciences (EuAsC2S-14)’. The conference is being held at the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi.

The moot would address key issues related to chemical sciences, such as nanochemistry, food and drug chemistry, medicinal chemistry and agrochemistry.

An official said the conference aimed at providing young scientists unique opportunity to meet and interact with leaders in their respective fields and learn from their experience. “This conference is expected to help Pakistan in its efforts to attain self-sufficiency in food and drug production.

Professor Atta-ur-Rahman said over 740 scientists, including 150 foreign researchers from around 45 countries, were participating in this Eurasia conference, making it one of the largest science conferences in Pakistan in the recent years.

He claimed that Indian and Bangladeshi delegations were not participating in the event. Professor Rahman said the ICCBS was a leading institution of the world, where scientists and researchers were working for the promotion of science and research.

“Based on needs of the country, this research establishment is being expanded into fields such as genomics, nanochemistry, clinical research and other relevant fields.”

A Turkish scholar and the vice chairman of the 14th Eurasia Conference, Professor Professor Bilge Sener, termed the conference pivotal for the training of young scholars, and for the promotion of science.  

Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) President Professor Manzoor Soomro said the ECO was an intergovernmental regional organisation established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey for the purpose of promoting economic, technical and cultural cooperation among the member states.

“Pakistan is a new country but owns an ancient history. The ECO is promoting economic, technical and cultural cooperation among Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and other member states.”

He said the ECO was the successor organisation of the Regional Cooperation for Development which remained in existence since 1964 up to 1979.

“In 1992, the organisation was expanded to include seven new members. The ECO region is full of bright trading prospects. Despite being new, the ECO has developed into a thriving regional organisation. Its international stature is growing.”

ICCBS Director Professor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary said: “Science is all about finding the universal truth.”  He informed the participants that Pakistan was a cradle of great ancient civilisations. “This country owns seven mountain peaks out of the 12 peaks.”

He said Pakistan was the wealthiest country in term of having enormous natural resources. “It is indeed a pleasure for Pakistan to host again the EuAsC2S.”

The Chairman H.E.J. Foundation Aziz Latif Jamal, said that science is a fascinating field. “The H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, KU, is considered the shining face of Pakistan as this institute has become the recognition of Pakistan in the world of science all over the world.”

Dr Panjwani Memorial Trust Chairperson Nadira Panjwani while talking about the education sector said there was an alarming situation in the country, and providing quality higher education to the masses in the country is really a mammoth task. She urged all the stakeholders to be united for the sake of this very significant sector. 

The national and international scientists also shared their experiences during several sessions held on the first day of the conference.