Pakistan facing no security threats due to its nukes, says Dr AQ Khan

Top nuclear scientist says good governance can help us become a successful country like Turkey and Malaysia

Pakistan is now free from all sorts of security threats due to its nuclear weapons. This country is luckily blessed with natural resources, and if we assure good governance in our homeland, then in next 10 years we could successfully become a developed country like Turkey and Malaysia.

Renowned nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan made these observations in his address at the prize distribution ceremony of a poster competition organised by Dr AQ Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Karachi University, at KIBGE Auditorium, on Monday.

He informed the audience that when India conducted nuclear tests in 1974, he wrote a letter to then prime minister ZA Bhutto from Holland and offered services for the Pakistani nuclear programme.

Khan said Bhutto called him immediately. “During that meeting, I ensured him that we can make better nuclear weapons than India. I had no political background. That’s why, Bhutto gave me the responsibility of the nuclear programme and we acquired nuclear capability in a span of mere six years, which was a great milestone.”

KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan thanked Dr AQ Khan for his contribution to the field of science in the country as well as for developing this institute. 

He said the nuclear scientist would now be glad to see the quality of research at the institute named after him. He said training was the most important part, especially for young researchers.

The vice chancellor said the KIBGE was playing a pivotal role in the promotion of research culture. “In this age of globalisation and technological advancement, one could not undermine the importance of research in the field of science. The research culture must be promoted in the varsities in order to ensure development. The education system must be in accordance with the contemporary science and technological needs.”

He stated that when he was a student at the varsity, it was ranked number one university of the country. He promised that uplifting the university’s ranking was his ultimate goal as vice chancellor.

Earlier, KIBGE Director Professor Dr Abid Azhar stressed that training in the field of science was vital. He said training opportunities must be provided to young scientists and claimed that the KIBGE had been doing that for a long time.

“We provide training in different courses and workshops at the KIBGE not only to the students but to the members of other institutes. We have collaboration with various prestigious international institutions and actively participating in international and national events.”

Maliha Iqbal Soomro secured first, Syeda Areesha Zaidi bagged second while Aimen Pirzada got third position in the poster competition.